BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - The (RV) Lindsey Wilson volleyball team brushed off an early setback to split opening day at the Tiger Kickoff Invitational on Friday.
Match One: (RV) Lindsey Wilson 0, Spring Arbor (Mich.) 3
Lindsey Wilson faced an early deficit in the first set as the Cougars jumped out to a 7-1 lead. The Blue Raiders battled back within four at 17-13 in part from a combination of kills by
Gabi Zuquelo and
Luisina Sandrone Tais.
Spring Arbor answered, however, with a late run to take the opening set 25-16.
The two sides traded points initially in the second frame before Spring Arbor built a 15-7 advantage. A Cougars' attack error followed by a
Brooke Robinson kill pulled Lindsey Wilson within two at 23-21. Out of a subsequent timeout, Spring Arbor scored two of the final three points to win the set 25-22.
Another strong start by the Cougars made the difference in set three as Spring Arbor broke from a 2-2 tie with a 5-0 run. Consecutive kills from
Natalie Wandrie and a Cougars' hitting error cut the gap down to 14-11 and forced a Spring Arbor timeout. Lindsey Wilson edged within striking distance and knotted the set at 22-22, but the last three points went the Cougars' way to complete the sweep.
Sandrone Tais and Zuquelo led the Blue Raiders with 13 and 10 kills, respectively.
Addison Janes passed out 16 assists, and
Momo Hampton recorded 26 digs.
Match Two: (RV) Lindsey Wilson 3, Rochester Christian (Mich.) 1
Janes opened the first set with a service ace, and four straight points by the Blue Raiders quickly created a 5-2 lead. The Warriors kept pace early, but a sequence of kills by Zuquelo, Sandrone Tais and Wandrie sparked a four-point run that stretched Lindsey Wilson's advantage to 17-11. Rochester Christian answered with an 11-4 surge of its own, pulling within one at 22-21. Much like she did to open the set, however, Janes put the finishing touches on the frame with another ace after back-to-back kills from Zuquelo.
Rochester Christian led 5-4 in the second set when a service error shifted the momentum toward Lindsey Wilson. Blocks from Kilchenmann and Sutherland fueled what became a 7-0 Blue Raider run. Another 7-2 spurt shortly afterward pushed the advantage to 22-11. Despite a late Rochester Christian rally, Lindsey Wilson held firm to take the set, 25-18.
The third frame became a back-and-forth battle late, with the Warriors eventually edging ahead, 26-24, to force a fourth set.
In the fourth, Rochester Christian held a 21-18 advantage before consecutive miscues and a kill from Sandrone Tais pulled Lindsey Wilson even and forced a Warriors timeout. The Blue Raiders then closed the match with three consecutive kills, including two from Zuquelo, who finished with a match-high 22 kills, to secure their first victory of the season.
Sandrone Tais notched an 11-dig, 10-kill double-double, Janes and Kilchenmann totaled 19 and 13 assists, each, and Hampton hit the 20-dig plateau again with 23.
Lindsey Wilson returns to McHie Arena at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, August 15 to face Carroll (Mont.), then Marian (Ind.) at 5 p.m. CT.
