GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The (RV) Blue Raider volleyball team never stopped fighting in the face of adversity against No. 21 Aquinas on Saturday, but the homestanding Saints defended their floor in four to win the Opening Round match of the NAIA National Tournament at Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center.

After falling behind two sets to none, the visitors thwarted off two match-point opportunities in the third to force a fourth set. The hosts then overcame an early deficit to sneak by and take the match.

In their final appearances for Lindsey Wilson, seniors Ola Wyrzykowska and Luiza Gonçalves left everything they had on the floor. Wyrzykowska finished with a team-high 12 kills, as well as eight digs, three blocks, and two aces. She ends her career fifth all-time in career kills and fourth for service aces.

Gonçalves handed out 27 assists and had 13 digs for ninth double-double of the season. The Blue Raiders' setter also contributed five aces, five kills, and two blocks. She closes her Lindsey Wilson tenure seventh all-time in career assists and third for service aces.

Natalie Wandrie hit 0.412 for eight kills, Ana Clara Beltran Sacca added five blocks and four kills at the net, and Momo Hampton recorded 20 digs.

In the first set, a four-point run with two blocks by Sacca helped Lindsey Wilson go up 10-5. Consecutive points from Wyrzykowska on an ace and kill restored the advantage to five points at 14-9, but Aquinas answered with an 8-1 swing to take a 17-15 lead. Tied at 22-22, the Saints fed their middle for three of the next four points and won the set 25-23.

A 7-1 start for the home team created early separation in the second set. The Saints maintained their momentum until five straight points by Lindsey Wilson, including two aces by Gonçalves, trimmed the score to 17-14 late. The Blue Raiders got within two points after an Aquinas attack error, though they could get no closer as the Saints rallied off the next five points to take the frame 25-18.

The Saints led 9-3 in the early stages of the third set, then went back-and-forth with the Blue Raiders as their lead dwindled to five. A Saints' service error and two more Gonçalves aces ignited a Lindsey Wilson run. Wyrzykowska and Sofija Pjevic teamed up on a block to cut the score to 16-15, and the Blue Raiders went on to a 5-1 run to go ahead 20-18. By the time both sides had utilized their timeouts, the score stood at 23-23. Aquinas earned two match-points but lost the second off a kill by Sacca. Another Saints' miscue followed by Rylee Springer laying down an ace finally ended the set in Lindsey Wilson's favor, 30-28.

In the fourth, the Blue Raiders broke away from an 11-11 tie on a Gonçalves kill and block by Wyrzykowska and Sacca. A subsequent ace from Springer forced Aquinas to burn a timeout, which the Saints came out of with a 5-1 run to grab a 16-15 edge. Despite a service error knotting the score at 16-16, Aquinas ultimately pulled away to close the set 25-19.

Lindsey Wilson concludes the 2025 season with a 29-11 record, surpassing the program's win total from a season ago.