BOWLING GREEN, KY - The Wesleyan Rams showed their potential on the first day of the Mid-South Challenge in Kentucky, sweeping Life University and battling defending NAIA National Champion - Lindsey Wilson - in a five-set thriller. Sasha Robinson led the charge with a triple-double (22 assists, 10 kills, 10 digs) in match against the top ranked Blue Raiders.
 
The effort was a stronger one than the Lady Rams managed in the NAIA National Tournament last season, when Wesleyan was swept (9-25, 10-25, 13-25) in pool play.
Wesleyan took a 2-0 set lead on Lindsey Wilson Friday - 25-18, 25-22 - before the Raiders went on a furious 25-14, 25-18 and 15-9 rally to remain unbeaten (4-0) on the season.
 
The Rams earned 11 kills from Dana Lohrke and 10 from Sasha Robinson showing strength at the net defensively (nine blocks). Tierra Coverson had four of the nine, while Robinson contributed 2.5. Digs were led by Brianna Sitton's whopping 34, followed by Brenda Pargas' 21. Pargas also had 21 assists to go with Robinson's 22.
 
The Lady Rams (1-2) came out firing, hitting .255 in set one with 17 kills and just four attacking errors. Lindsey Wilson strengthened in sets four and five, hitting .355 and .310, showing why they are still considered the top team in the country, according to the NAIA Preseason Coach's Poll. Wesleyan pulled away in a 16-15 game, going on a 9-3 team-effort spurt. Kills by Mohle, Lohrke, Robinson, Coverson and Paige Wallace helped put the Raiders on upset alert.
 
The second set saw a flustered Lindsey Wilson commit six errors after closing the deficit to 16-15, the exact same point in the first set where Wesleyan pulled away.
 
Wesleyan had an easier time with Life University in the games matinee (25-23, 25-20, 25-20). Attacking was the difference in a close contest, with Wesleyan hitting .243 in the match to Life's .088.
 
Life dramatized the first game by tying the score at 8, 9, 10, 14 and 20, but only once took the lead. Three different times, a Life error helped Wesleyan pull ahead. Wesleyan trailed 19-16 in Set 2 before going on a 9-1 run including two Coverson kills and a Pargas service ace.
 
Mohle led a balanced attack with nine kills, followed by Lohrke and Coverson's eight. Pargas reached double-figure assists with 16 while Sitton's (15) and Mohle's (13) digs led the defensive effort.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
The second day of the Mid-South Challenge starts at 10 a.m. against Campbellsville University, a Tigers team the Rams are also familiar with. The Rams topped Campbellsville in a five-set nail-biter at the Sid Richardson Center in the NAIA National Tournament opening round last season. The Rams conclude the Challenge at 2 p.m. with a match against University of the Cumblerlands.