COLUMBIA, Ky. – The Lindsey Wilson volleyball team's non-conference home winning streak increased to 51 matches on Wednesday evening, as the Blue Raiders recorded their ninth sweep of the season to defeat Midway (Ky.).
Elisa Burzio hit 0.400 with a match-high 12 kills, and
Ola Wyrzykowska became the 34
th different player in program history to reach 500 career kills behind her nine successful attacks.
Defensively,
Wiktoria Stankiewicz racked up 18 digs, while
Savanah Pippin helped guide Lindsey Wilson's presence at the net with three blocks.
The Blue Raiders struck for 17 kills in the opening set, including back-to-back hits by
Brenda Arango and
Lara Danesi early on to give the hosts a 3-2 lead. The offensive fire power of Burzio, Wyrzykowska, and Pippin catapulted Lindsey Wilson's advantage to 16-10, then eventually 23-15 after a Stankiewicz service ace. The Eagles held on, briefly, late but the Blue Raiders ultimately won the first set 25-19.
Midway opened the middle set on a 4-0 run, only to fall behind by three thanks to a 10-3 stretch by Lindsey Wilson. The home team built its lead to 14-9 before a swing of momentum pushed the Eagles on a six-point counter and put them in front, 15-14. Following a Blue Raider timeout, the energy inside the gymnasium was restored and three consecutive kills from Burzio sent Lindsey Wilson off on an 11-2 rally to clinch the set 25-17.
The two sides went back-and-forth to start the third set. A pair of kills by Wyrzykowska and Bella Christófaro created some separation for Lindsey Wilson and gave the Blue Raiders a 12-8 lead. The cushion grew to 17-12 but Midway continued to fight and cut its deficit to 20-18 down the stretch. Lindsey Wilson, however, got the last word by scoring the final five points of the evening, ending with an ace from Luiza Gonçalves.
Wednesday's victory is the eighth-straight for Lindsey Wilson overall and at home, dating back to last season.
The Blue Raiders face a pair of Mid-South opponents this weekend, beginning at 7 p.m. CST on Friday versus Bethel (Tenn.).
