CREVE COEUR, Mo. – The Lindsey Wilson volleyball team concluded play in the Missouri Baptist Classic on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Raiders started off the morning against 24^th-ranked McPherson (Kan.), then ended with a four-set decision over Faulkner (Ala.).

Ola Wyrzykowska controlled the tempo on offense with 24 kills and four service aces. Elisa Burzio added 18 kills, while Brenda Arango turned in a solid doubleheader with 16 kills on a .364 hitting percentage to go with a team-high seven blocks.

Luiza Gonçalves and Monika Szwarc dished out 45 and 27 assists, respectively.

 
Match One: (RV) Lindsey Wilson 0, No. 24 McPherson (Kan.) 3

Aside from a one-sided second set, the Blue Raiders kept things close against the nationally-ranked Bulldogs.

Three straight points, including back-to-back service aces by Gonçalves got the ball rolling for the Blue Raiders, but McPherson battled back to take an 11-10 lead. A five-point swing for Lindsey Wilson, capped by another ace from Gonçalves put the Blue Raiders ahead 15-11. The Bulldogs, however, cut into the deficit, again, and eventually knotted the score at 21-21. A combo block between Wyrzykowska and Arango pushed Lindsey Wilson in front to draw a McPherson timeout. Out of the break, the Bulldogs took over with four of the next five points to win the set, 25-23.

McPherson led by as many as 10 points in the second set, riding that momentum to a significant 25-16 set win.

The action in the third set was hit-for-hit, back-and-forth as both teams shared small runs. Lindsey Wilson led 23-19 before the Bulldogs put together their decisive run, outscoring the Blue Raiders 7-1 to put the match way.

 
Match Two: (RV) Lindsey Wilson 3, Faulkner (Ala.) 1

Laura Milori and Arango each recorded career bests as the Blue Raiders brushed off a first set loss to take the next three and end the weekend on the plus side.

Arango was clutch at the net, hitting .455 with 12 kills and four blocks. Milori paced the Lindsey Wilson back line with 22 digs.

Despite outkilling the Eagles 15-9 in the first set, the Blue Raiders were plagued by costly service errors that allowed Faulkner to pull away and take the first, 25-22.

Lindsey Wilson got its gears grinding in the second set, then produced 29 kills and only two attacking miscues across the third and four sets to dominate the Eagles late to put the match away.

Elsewhere for the Blue Raiders, sophomore Natalie Wandrie hit 5-for-5 on the attack, Burzio came up one dig shy of a double-double, Wyrzykowska laid down three service aces, and Szwarc passed out 25 assists plus a pair of aces.

 
Lindsey Wilson returns to Kentucky next week to resume its Mid-South Conference schedule at 6 p.m. CST on Thursday at Campbellsville (Ky.).