Lindsey Wilson Athletics – Tennessee Trio Awaits Volleyball Over the Next Four Days

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COLUMBIA, Ky. – The Lindsey Wilson volleyball team’s second stretch of Tennessee-based foes continues this weekend as the University of Tennessee Southern pays a visit to Columbia. Saturday’s bout against the Firehawks will then lead the Blue Raiders into back-to-back contests in the Volunteer State versus Bethel University on Monday and Freed-Hardeman University on Tuesday.

The locals, on the year, are 3-3 when facing teams from Tennessee, including wins already over Tennessee Southern and Freed-Hardeman back in September. The showdown with Bethel, on the other hand, will be a revenge match for the Blue Raiders after the Wildcats claimed a 3-2 victory when the two sides met earlier this season at Biggers Sports Center.

Tennessee Southern (11-18, 3-9 MSC) is led by returning First-Team All-Conference honoree Brianna Turner, who actively ranks tied for third in the Mid-South with 295 total kills behind the sixth-highest attack percentage (0.245). The senior is flanked by the junior combo of Morgan Avrit and Sophia Ortega with 253 and 239 kills, respectively, making the Firehawks the only conference team to have three or more attackers with 230-plus kills.

The Mid-South’s current leader in total kills resides in McKenzie, Tennessee as a member of the Bethel Wildcats (18-6, 6-5 MSC). Hannah McGowan is up to 369 successful attacks in 2022. She has recorded 20 or more kills on six different occasions this year, including a 30-piece against Union College (Ky.) back on August 20 in the Vette City Classic. The ‘Cats’ senior outside-hitter is led to the net by the conference’s front-runner setter, Nayeli Vilchez, whose 841 assists not only paces the league but also ranks 20th in the nation.

As for Freed-Hardeman, the Lions (13-11, 4-7 MSC) were most recently swept at the hands of the Wildcats, marking the team’s third loss in its last five outings. Even still, Freed-Hardeman continues to stand as one of the conference’s hottest teams from the service line, boasting a league-best 2.08 aces per set coming into this weekend.

Lindsey Wilson (9-11, 5-5 MSC) steps back onto the floor with the hopes of snapping a two-game skid. Senior attacker Alexis Smith has been on a tear most notably. Over the Blue Raiders’ last five matches, she is turning in 3.89 kills per set, which recently helped propel her into fourth all-time on the program’s career kills…