COLUMBIA, Ky. – The Lindsey Wilson volleyball team avenged an early-season loss to Bethel (Tenn.) on Thursday evening, defeating the Wildcats in a straight-set decision in the penultimate home match of the year.

After falling in four sets to the visitors back on September 29 in McKenzie, the Blue Raiders kept things clean late and wound up hitting .330 to the 'Cats' .136. Lindsey Wilson was also stifling at the net on defense, picking up nine total blocks.

Elizabeth Moore paced a balanced offense with nine kills, followed by Elisa Burzio and Savanah Pippin with eight apiece.

The latter of the Blue Raiders' three leading attackers got the scoring started in the first set, and with that, Lindsey Wilson went ahead quickly, 4-1. Further displays of offense were exchanged before a three-point run by the hosts forced a Bethel timeout with the Wildcats trailing 12-7. Out of the breather, Bethel scored 12 of the next 18 points to take a 19-18 lead, but it was all Lindsey Wilson from that point on. Three consecutive attack errors by the Wildcats and successful strikes from Burzio and Ola Wyrzkowska helped propel the Blue Raiders to a 25-22 win in the first set.

Neither side found much cushion from the other to open the middle set. Then, down 12-10, a kill by Moore sparked a 5-0 run for Lindsey Wilson. The short rally included two kills, in fact, from Moore and a pair of service aces by Luiza Goncalves. Bethel continued to fight, however, and charged back to go ahead 21-19. An ensuing timeout gave the Blue Raiders just enough of a jolt to end the frame on a 6-2 stretch, punctuated by another kill by Moore.

Despite falling behind early in the third set 4-3, it did not take much for Lindsey Wilson to find its footing and run away to a commanding 25-11 match-clinching set win. The Blue Raiders hit a damaging .391 in the final frame, they also added four aces and three blocks.

Goncalves finished the night with a match-high 30 assists, six blocks, and three service aces, while Alessia Bergesio produced eight digs.

Lindsey Wilson concludes the 2023 regular season at 6 p.m. CST on Friday, November 4 versus Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.). The Blue Raiders will recognize their senior class prior to the match.