COLUMBIA, Ky. -- After falling behind 2-1, the Lindsey Wilson College volleyball team won two straight sets to defeat Pikeville (Ky.) College, 3-2 (25-17, 25-27, 23-25, 25-23, 15-11), on Tuesday in the regular-season home finale at Biggers Sports Center.
With the senior-night win, the Blue Raiders improve to 8-23 overall and 7-5 in Mid-South Conference games. Pikeville drops to 4-23 and 1-9 in MSC action.
Lindsey Wilson was led by four players with double figures in kills. Junior Racheal Achieng led the team with 17 kills, freshman Ashlie Haworth tallied 16, senior Lindsay Pelonero delivered 12 and sophomore Samantha Camp connected on 10 kills.
Seniors Sarah Kline and Kelley Burke provided a jump start to the Blue Raider offense with 36 and 19 assists, respectively. Kline also collected 21 digs.
Leading the defense was sophomore Rachael Anderson with a match-high 32 digs, while Haworth was active receiving attacks as well with 29 digs.
The night started out well for the Blue Raiders as they started the first set with five straight points to take a 5-0 lead. After pulling ahead 22-11 on a ball-handling error by Pikeville, the Blue Raiders allowed a small four-point spree by the Bears but ultimately won the set 25-17.
It looked like a similar set in the second frame after the Blue Raiders went ahead 16-11 after three straight Bear attack errors. However, Pikeville rattled off five straight points and put the momentum on its side.
With the score tied at 25-25, an attack error by Haworth and kill by Pikeville's Elizabeth Mosley gave the Bears the 27-25 win.
Lindsey Wilson closed out the third set in disappointing fashion, relinquishing a seven-point lead (23-16) to lose the set 25-23. The Bears tallied nine straight points, mostly off Blue Raider attack errors to steal the set.
Down 2-1 in the match, Lindsey Wilson was forced to pull off back-to-back set wins.
Neither win came easy as the Blue Raiders fought back from a 19-18 deficit in the fourth set to win 25-23. After tying at 11-11 in the final set, Lindsey Wilson shook off the Bears for a 15-11 win.
Both teams struggled on the attack as Lindsey Wilson posted a .161 hitting percentage and the Bears managed a .116 mark striking the ball. Errors were also a problem for the Blue Raiders, committing 32 on attacks, while Pikeville had 19.
Lindsey Wilson returns to action at 5 p.m. CT on Oct. 29 at University of the Cumberlands (Ky.).
Click here for box score.
