BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – When Jacob Hepp spoke about expectations during the preseason, he mentioned the program's "storied past," and what it will take "to see Blue Raider volleyball return to national prominence." The first-year head coach saw his team take a huge step in the right direction on Saturday afternoon.
(RV) Lindsey Wilson defeated (RV) Cumberlands (Ky.), 3-1 to claim the Mid-South Conference women's volleyball tournament championship for the first time since 2021 and the tenth time overall. The Blue Raiders bested the Patriots across the stat sheet, including total kills – 54-51 – digs – 75-67 – aces, – 10-5 – and blocks – 8-3.
For a second consecutive match, four different Blue Raiders turned in double-doubles.
Ola Wyrzykowska led with 16 kills and 18 digs,
Elisa Burzio had 15 kills and 10 digs,
Monika Szwarc dished out 23 assists to go with 13 digs, and
Luiza Gonçalves went for 24 assists, 10 digs, and three service aces to tie the program's single-season record at 79.
Elsewhere defensively,
Laura Milori finished with 15 digs,
Brenda Arango had a team-high four blocks, and
Savanah Pippin added three blocks.
As a team, Lindsey Wilson out Cumberlands .260 to .201.
The Patriots grabbed an early 3-1 lead in the first set. A setting error followed by back-to-back kills from Pippin and Burzio put Lindsey Wilson in front for the first time, 4-3. Another three-point run later on with three-straight kills extended the lead to 9-6 and the Blue Raiders continued to pummel the Cumberlands' defense. An 8-1 run composed of seven kills proved the difference as Lindsey Wilson pulled away to take the first, 25-20. The Blue Raiders had 19 kills, in all, in the opening frame, including eight by Burzio.
An Arango kill and ace from Gonçalves gave Lindsey Wilson a 2-0 start to the second set. Cumberlands hit back but the Blue Raiders capitalized on their opponent's errors to turn a 7-1 run into a 14-7 advantage. Pippin and Burzio combined later in the frame with a kill and ace to help grow the lead to 22-12 and a pair of strikes by Wyrzykowska and Arango put the set away for Lindsey Wilson, 25-16.
Cumberlands did not go away in the third, limiting the Blue Raiders to only six kills on 25 attempts. Lindsey Wilson led 11-7 before a Patriots' timeout. Afterward, Cumberlands found a new gear and pushed ahead by as many as seven points to keep the match alive.
The Blue Raiders had not lost a fourth or fifth set to a conference opponent at any point during the season and were not about to start on Saturday. Seven of the first eight points of the final set went to Lindsey Wilson. Wyrzykowska helped the pace with two kills and two aces during the stretch. Cumberlands managed to trim the lead down, but the Blue Raiders had an answer at every turn. A Burzio kill and Milori ace put Lindsey Wilson up 19-12 into a Patriots' timeout. Out of the break, Cumberlands pulled within four points at 23-19 just for Wyrzykowska to take over with two more kills to clinch the title, 25-20.
Lindsey Wilson earns the Mid-South's automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament and will learn it's opening round opponent at noon CST on Monday, November 18.
