MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – The Lindsey Wilson volleyball team's memorable 2024 season came to an emotional end on Saturday inside Ariel Arena as the Blue Raiders fell to No. 14 Mount Vernon Nazarene in the Opening Round of the NAIA National Tournament.

Elisa Burzio – 11 kills and 12 digs -- and Ola Wyrzykowska – 11 kills and 13 digs -- each recorded double-doubles for the third consecutive match, and Laura Milori ended her senior season with a career-high 37 digs.

Fellow seniors Brenda Arango, Elizabeth Moore, and Savanah Pippin contributed five, three, and two blocks, respectively, while Monika Szwarc dished out a team-high 22 assists to go along with seven digs and three service aces.

Luiza Gonçalves started the match with her single-season record-breaking 80^th service ace and from there the Blue Raiders pushed out to a 5-3 lead. A Cougar attack error extended the advantage to 12-8, and after a timeout, the hosts answered back with a 7-2 run to go ahead 15-14. Lindsey Wilson pushed a three-point rally to retake the lead, 17-15, but Mount Vernon Nazarene countered. Trailing 19-18, an Arango kill triggered a set-sealing 7-3 stretch for the Blue Raiders with another Cougar hitting miscue clinching a 25-22 set win.

Mount Vernon Nazarene utilized quick starts across each of the remaining three sets while limiting the Lindsey Wilson offense to a sub-.200 attack percentage.

The Cougars grabbed a 15-12 lead midway through the fourth set. A Burzio strike sparked a four-point swing to put the Blue Raiders in front, 16-15. The two sides traded hits down until the end. Successful attacks by Burzio and Pippin kept Lindsey Wilson alive to force a Cougar timeout, but the home team got the edge it was looking for, ultimately ending the match.

The Blue Raiders conclude the 2024 season with a 27-9 record and a Mid-South Conference regular season and tournament championship.