Lindsey Wilson Volleyball takes MSC Tournament title with 3-0 win over Thomas More

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Top-seeded Lindsey Wilson volleyball captured its fifth straight Mid-South Conference Tournament title tonight with a 3-0 win over second-seeded Thomas More (Ky.) at Bowling Green Arena.

With the win, the Blue Raiders (29-5) earn the Mid-South Conference’s automatic bid into the NAIA National Tournament.

A balanced attack — with four Blue Raiders tallying at least seven kills — helped Lindsey Wilson outhit the Saints (24-8) .265 to .137 in the match to win 25-11, 25-20, 27-25.

MSC Player of the Year Kasia Niderla led the way for the Blue Raiders with 12 kills while Alexis Smith chipped in 10. Elly Burke finished with eight while Jelena Lazovic added seven without and error for a team-high .350 hitting percentage.

Niderla added four blocks to control the net while Lauren Larzelere posted a match-high 17 digs.

Lindsey Wilson dominated the opening set despite a fast start from the Saints.

Thomas More won four of the first five points, but it was all Lindsey Wilson from there. The Blue Raiders scored four straight and seven of the next eight to take an 8-5 lead. A pair of service aces — one from Niderla and the other from Abby Grubbs — fueled the Lindsey Wilson run.

Leading 10-8, the Blue Raiders ran off six straight points to take a 16-8 lead. Peyton Johnston provided a service ace and Burke added two kills during the spurt. After Thomas More closed to within 17-11, the Blue Raiders closed out the set winning the final eight points for the 25-11 first-set win. Niderla recorded three kills during the run while Lazovic chipped in two.

The Blue Raiders finished the set hitting .364 while the Saints committed six hitting errors for a .036 attack.

Lindsey Wilson once again had to overcome a slow start to take the second set 25-20.

Niderla and Smith led the way in the set with a combined 11 of the Blue Raiders’ 15 kills in the set. Camryn Rich assisted on all 15 kills in the set and ended with a match-high 31 assists.

Leading 16-15, Lindsey Wilson ran off three straight points to give the Blue Raiders some breathing room. The Saints managed to climb within three points on three different occasions but could get no closer as the Blue Raiders took the set 25-20 to take a 2-0 lead.

The third set proved to be the most competitive.

The Blue Raiders looked to be cruising to the win, leading 20-16. The Saints turned the table and went on a 4-0 run to tie the set at 20-20. The two teams exchanged points with Thomas More ultimately taking a 23-22 lead.

Following a Lindsey Wilson timeout, back-to-back Saints errors handed the Blue Raiders match point at 24-23. The Saints fought off that match point and one more before Burke slammed her eighth kill into the hardwood giving the Blue Raiders the 27-25 third-set win and the tournament title.

Lindsey Wilson is expected to advance directly to the final site of the NAIA Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa. The tournament field is scheduled to be announced on Monday, Nov. 18.

LINK: http://www.lindseyathletics.com/article/12160.php

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. — No. 7-ranked Lindsey Wilson football captured the program’s third divisional title with a 24-21 win today over host and No. 8 Cumberlands (Ky.) at James H Taylor II Stadium.

The Blue Raiders (10-0, 7-0 in the Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division) wrap up the program’s second perfect regular season with the win and earns an automatic bid into the NAIA Football Championship Series which begins next Saturday.

J.T. Lyon stopped Josiah Robbins short of the first down on a botched field goal attempt to preserve the three-point win. The Patriots (9-1, 6-1) rushed their field goal unit onto the field inside the final two minutes trailing by three. With no timeouts, a low snap forced Robbins to try to run for the first down, but the Blue Raider defense stopped him three yards short of the marker to secure the title.

Lindsey Wilson adds the 2019 crown to its 2014 and 2017 titles. LWC will host a playoff game next Saturday at Blue Raider Stadium. Pairings are scheduled to be announced on Sunday at 6 p.m. CT.

The Blue Raiders took advantage of three Cumberlands’ turnovers in the game, scoring 14 points off the Patriots miscues. The Lindsey Wilson defense owns 31 takeaways this season. The Blue Raiders lead the NAIA with a +23 turnover margin.

Cumberlands struck first on its opening drive as Robbins sprinted 60 yards for a touchdown to cap a 6-play, 78-yard drive for the 7-0 lead.

The Blue Raiders responded on a short field following the first turnover of the game.

After the Patriot defense stopped Lindsey Wilson’s ensuing drive, a punt bounced off a Cumberlands’ player and T.J. James was there to gobble up the loose ball on the Patriot 28-yard line.

Getting a second chance, the Blue Raiders made the Patriots pay for the mistake as Cameron Dukes hit Joshua Lewis on a five-yard slant on third-and-goal for a touchdown. The third-down conversion was one of 10 conversions on 18 third-down plays during the game for the Blue Raiders. Lewis finished with a career-high eight catches for 83 yards and the one touchdown.

Cumberlands responded on its next drive, marching 75 yards on 12 plays to take a 14-7 lead. Robbins connected with Darius Young on a six-yard touchdown toss to push the Patriots back in front. Robbins finished the game 20-of-27 for 228 passing yards and two touchdowns. He added 88 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

The Blue Raiders nearly matched the Cumberlands drive on its ensuing possession with a 12-play, 74-yard scoring drive. Dukes capped the drive with a four-yard plunge behind the Blue Raider offensive line to tie the game. Dukes ended the game 19-of-28 for 217 yards and two touchdowns.

Lindsey Wilson took the lead for good on its next possession.

James Todd aided in the momentum swing with his team-leading seventh interception of the year. Todd — who broke the single-season record last week — returned the Robbins errant pass to the Cumberlands’ 40-yard line.

Despite the good field position, the Lindsey Wilson offense looked to be stalled after an incomplete pass, a one-yard run, and a 15-yard penalty. But on third-and-24, Dukes stepped up in the pocket and found Terrill Cole Jr all alone streaking up the right boundary for a 54-yard touchdown strike and a 21-14 lead.

The touchdown toss is Dukes’ 32nd of the season, four of which have gone to Cole.

The Blue Raiders had a chance to add to its lead on its last drive of the second quarter and the first drive of the third quarter, but uncharacteristic mistakes kept the lead at seven.

A drop pass that had a chance to go for a touchdown in the second quarter and a fumble — just the team’s second of the year — in the third quarter that ended a 16-play, 75-yard drive at the Cumberlands’ three-yard line aided in the Patriots remaining within striking distance.

Both defenses came up big in the second half.

Lindsey Wilson managed just a field goal and Cumberlands a touchdown after the break.

Jared Dougherty extended the Lindsey Wilson lead to 10 with a 32-yard field goal with just under five minutes left in regulation. The make is his 10th of the season — setting a new single-season record.

Cumberlands responded with its most efficient drive of the game. The Patriots marched 79 yards on seven plays in just under two minutes to climb within 24-21.

The Blue Raiders had a chance to ice the game on its ensuing drive, but the Patriot defense held on fourth-and-four from its own 39-yard line.

Cumberlands — full of momentum — needed just two plays to reach just outside the redzone.

The Lindsey Wilson defense made sure the Patriots did not reach the redzone to secure the divisional championship.

Following a seven-yard completion to set up second-and-three from the LWC 22-yard line, the Blue Raiders brought the pressure forcing a pair of incompletions. With the play clock dwindling, the Patriots tried to tie the game but were denied.

James led the Blue Raider defense with seven tackles while Mark Pruitt and Luke Bowman added six stops each.

Lindsey Wilson finds out on Sunday who will be coming to Columbia for the NAIA FCS. Kickoff for next Saturday’s game will be announced on Monday.

LINK: http://www.lindseyathletics.com/article/12156.php

No. 7-ranked Lindsey Wilson scored 27 unanswered points to beat visiting Georgetown (Ky.) 34-18 today on Senior Day at Blue Raider Stadium.

With the win, Lindsey Wilson (9-0, 6-0 in the Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division) sets up a winner-take-all game with Cumberlands (Ky.) next Saturday for the divisional title.

Trailing 10-7 following the opening quarter, Lindsey Wilson needed just three plays in the second frame to take the lead for good. Cameron Dukes’ 1-yard plunge on fourth-and-goal pushed the Blue Raiders to a 14-10 advantage.

Dukes led the Blue Raider offense — that posted 436 total yards — in beating the Tigers (4-5, 3-3) for a sixth straight time. Dukes ended the game 26-of-41 for 279 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the team with 65 rushing yards and the one score.

The game remained 14-10 until the last play of the first half. Jared Dougherty hit a 35-yard field goal as time expired to give the Blue Raiders the 17-10 halftime lead.

Like the 10-point second quarter, the Blue Raiders used a touchdown and field goal to build their lead to 27-10 through three quarters.

Dukes found Joshua Lewis on a fade to the back of the endzone with 8:23 left in the third for a 24-10 lead and Dougherty added a 20-yard field goal with 3:50 left for the 17-point cushion. Dougherty’s second field goal tied his own single-season program record with nine makes.

While the offense was starting to click, the defense turned up the pressure.

After surrendering 156 yards and 10 points to the Tigers in the opening quarter, the Lindsey Wilson defense allowed just 39 yards in the second and third quarters combined and just 109 yards over the final three-quarters of the game.

Lindsey Wilson also posted another three-takeaway game with a pair of interceptions by James Todd and a pick by Stevie Miller. Todd’s second interception — his sixth of the season — broke a six-way tie for the most picks in a single-season.

Midway through the fourth quarter Lindsey Wilson tacked on some insurance as Dukes hit Hunter Watkins for a 41-yard touchdown strike to extend the lead to 34-10. The touchdown toss is Duke’s 30th of the season and the first for Watkins this season.

Georgetown added a late score as Zach Dampier found Jake Johnson for an acrobatic touchdown to cut the deficit to 34-18 — following the two-point conversion.

Lindsey Wilson recovered the subsequent onside kick and ran out the clock to finish with a perfect home regular-season record.

Georgetown came out firing in the opening quarter as Dampier connected with JJ Ogbogu for a 33-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead. The Blue Raiders answered as Dukes hit Jay Gaudlock in the front of the endzone from 13 yards out to tie the game at 7-7.

Tyler Dummer pushed the Tigers in front with 4:33 left in the quarter with a 40-yard field goal for the 10-7. The three-point deficit marked the first time this season the Blue Raiders have trailed after one quarter.

Lindsey Wilson took control following the kick and never relinquished it en route to the win.

Lewis and Gaudlock combined for 13 catches for 147 yards and two scores. Luke Bowman and Mark Pruitt led the defense with six tackles each while C.J. Dickerson stuffed the stat sheet with five tackles, one sack, one tackle for a loss and three pass deflections.

Dampier finished 20-of-33 for 223 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions in the loss.

Lindsey Wilson returns to action at 12:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 16, as the Blue Raiders travel to Cumberlands (Ky.) in Williamsburg, Ky.

LINK: http://www.lindseyathletics.com/article/12118.php

PIKEVILLE, Ky. — The Lindsey Wilson offense put up a season-high 531 yards and the defense did not allow a touchdown in a 45-10 win at Pikeville (Ky.) tonight at Hambley Athletic Complex.

Jaylen Boyd ran for career-high 130 yards and four touchdowns while Cameron Dukes threw for 277 yards and two scores to lead the offense. The Blue Raider defense forced four turnovers, yielding just three points while on the field.

The No. 8-ranked Blue Raiders head into an off week next week with an 8-0 overall record, including 5-0 in the Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division. Pikeville — who is receiving votes in the national poll — slips to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the Bluegrass.

Leading 24-10 at the half, the Blue Raiders dominated the third quarter, outscoring their hosts 21-0 to take a 45-10 lead into the fourth quarter. Lindsey Wilson outgained the Bears 231-79 in the third frame and coasted to the 35-point win.

Boyd scored three times in the decisive third quarter — from 35, one and 28 yards out — while racking up 86 yards on six carries in the frame.

The Lindsey Wilson defense forced punts on each Pikeville possession in the quarter and stopped the Bears on fourth-and-one on the first play of the fourth quarter to stomp out any Pikeville hope for an upset.

Lindsey Wilson outgained the Bears 523 to 391. The four takeaways for the Blue Raider defense raises its season total to 25.

Both defenses appeared to be just a step ahead of their counterparts in the early stages of the first quarter.

The Blue Raider defense forced a three-and-out and Mark Pruitt picked off a Bowen Smith pass during the first two drives as Lindsey Wilson ended the first quarter allowing just 44 yards on 12 plays. The Pikeville defense stopped the Blue Raiders on fourth-and-one on Lindsey Wilson’s first drive and held them to a field goal on the second drive.

Jared Dougherty connected on a 23-yard field goal to put the Blue Raiders in front 3-0. Dougherty is now 7-for-7 on field goals this season.

Lindsey Wilson — who put together a pair of 11-play scoring drives in the first quarter — took a 10-0 lead just before the end of the first. Boyd scampered in from the six-yard line to cap the 11-play, 84-yard drive for his first score of the night. Boyd has eight rushing touchdowns this season and 12 total scores following tonight’s effort.

Pikeville used its special teams unit to bring the Homecoming crowd to its feet early in the second quarter. Timothy Butler blocked a Dougherty punt and Josh Green took the ball out of the air at the 1-yard line and carried it into the endzone for the score to cut the deficit to three points.

Following a Lindsey Wilson punt, the Bears marched down the field threatening to take their first lead, but James Todd stalled the drive with his team-leading fourth interception of the season. Todd returned the pick 36 yards where the Blue Raiders needed just one play to increase their lead back to 10 points and snatch the momentum back.

Dukes found Joshua Lewis up the sideline for a 24-yard touchdown for the 17-7 lead. It was the fourth one-play touchdown drive of the season for the Blue Raiders. Lewis finished the game with five catches for 99 yards and two scores.

Pikeville, once again marched down the field, only to be turned away by the stingy Lindsey Wilson defense. Facing a fourth-and-three from the Lindsey Wilson 21-yard line, Alexander Shelton’s keeper out of the wildcat formation was thwarted to give the ball back to the offense. Pikeville finished the game 1-of-3 on fourth down and 3-of-11 on third down.

Lindsey Wilson used four plays to cover 80 yards on the ensuing possession — the last a 57-yard pass from Dukes to a wide-open Lewis for the 24-7 lead.

Pikeville cut the deficit to 24-10 just before the half as William Chandler hit a 32-yard field goal as time expired in the half.

Luke Bowman and Mason Helton led the Blue Raiders with seven tackles each. Damani Jenkins added six tackles, including 2-1/2 tackles for a loss. Bowman and Stevie Miller joined Todd and Pruitt with interceptions.

Lindsey Wilson returns to action at 1:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 9, as the Blue Raiders host Georgetown (Ky.) on Senior Day at Blue Raider Stadium.

 

LINK: http://www.lindseyathletics.com/article/12035.php