COLUMBIA, Ky. – The Asbury University volleyball team played No. 9 Lindsey Wilson tough early on in their season-opening match on Tuesday evening, but came away empty-handed after a four-set defeat.

The Eagles fell by a score of 25-20, 21-25, 20-25, 8-25.

The two squads have met for the past nine consecutive years, and it is the first time that AU has won a set against the Blue Raiders since 2011.

Asbury did a great job of attacking early and often in the first set of the match. The Eagles led for the entirety of the set as they tabbed nine kills. AU's largest lead was at 16-9. LWC tied things up at 20-20, but the Eagles won the final five points to win the set.

Lindsey Wilson played much tougher in the second set. The Blue Raiders led 16-15 midway through the action and then pulled together a late run to even the match with a 25-21 set win.

Despite a poor start in the third set, AU continued to battle hard. Rallying from a 7-0 deficit, Asbury closed the lead down to 14-12. However, LWC would win the third set 25-20 after finishing with 13 kills.

AU committed 11 errors in the final set and were unable to gather any momentum or rhythm. The Blue Raiders won the final four points to win the set and clinch the match at 25-8.

 As a team, Asbury recorded 38 kills, seven blocks, and four service aces. AU's hitting percentage for the match was .054.

For the final individual match totals, senior Lizzy Rempel collected a team-high 12 kills. Mari-Grace Alexander added six kills of her own throughout the match.

Freshman Hailey Jordan finished her Asbury debut by producing 16 assists, nine kills, and two service aces. Freshman Taegan Montgomery tabbed 15 assists as well.

Jessie Sandefur led the Eagles with 15 digs and also notched four assists.

Bethany Laue tabbed three block assists, while Alexander and Bethany Fye both finished with a solo block and two block assists.  

Asbury will have time to regroup as they will next prepare for the University of the Cumberlands on August 29 at home.