Lindsey Wilson University

McKENZIE, Tenn. – The Lindsey Wilson volleyball team earned a straight-set victory over Bethel (Tenn.) on Friday evening, defeating the Wildcats 25-20, 25-17 and 25-18.

With the victory, the Blue Raiders improve to 16-16 overall and 4-6 in Mid-South Conference play.

Lindsey Wilson wasted little time establishing momentum in the opening set, jumping out to a 5-1 advantage behind kills from Tully Bew and Luisina Sandrone Tais. Bethel attempted to close the gap, but the Blue Raiders maintained control with kills from Gabi Zuquelo, Dreu Patterson and Tessa Kilchenmann. The Wildcats trimmed the deficit to 22-18 late in the set, but Lindsey Wilson held off the comeback attempt. Sandrone Tais delivered the final kill to secure the 25-20 opening-set victory.

Bethel responded with a strong start to the second set, scoring the first four points to take an early advantage. Lindsey Wilson gradually erased the deficit behind kills from Bew and Sandrone Tais, along with a service ace from Kennedy Moone. After evening the score at 9-9, the Blue Raiders seized control of the set. Duda Becho, Kilchenmann and Sandrone Tais contributed kills as Lindsey Wilson began to pull away. Sandrone Tais also added a service ace to help the Blue Raiders close out the second set 25-17 and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.

The Blue Raiders carried their momentum into the third set, opening with four consecutive points, including a pair of service aces from Moone. Bew followed with two kills to extend Lindsey Wilson's advantage, while Patterson and Zuquelo added kills to keep the Wildcats from mounting a comeback. Lindsey Wilson maintained its lead throughout the set and eventually reached match point at 24-18. Ava Blomenberg delivered the match-clinching kill off an assist from Momo Hampton, completing the sweep with a 25-18 victory.

Sandrone Tais paced the Lindsey Wilson offense with a match-high 10 kills, while Bew followed with nine kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Zuquelo and Patterson contributed six kills apiece, and Kilchenmann chipped in five.

Addison Janes recorded a double-double with 18 assists and 10 digs, while Rachel Kilchenmann dished out 14 assists.

From the service line, Moone led the Blue Raiders with four aces while also collecting nine digs. Hampton matched Moone with nine digs, as she became the 20th player in program history to record 1,000 career digs, and she does so in just her second season with the program. Tessa Kilchenmann anchored the blocking effort with five block assists.

The Blue Raiders return to action Saturday, October 31, when they travel to Henderson, Tenn., to face Freed-Hardeman at 7 p.m. CT.