April 13, 2005

Final Stats

ROMEOVILLE, Ill.--Senior Matt Mueller captivated the Lewis crowd on Senior Night as he pounded 20 kills and hit .581 to help lead the Flyers to a sweep of conference rival IPFW.

The Flyers (15-14, 9-6 Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) defeated the Mastodons (10-15, 8-7 MIVA) 30-28, 40-38, 30-26.

The first two games were as tightly played as the scores indicate. In addition, Game 2 was one of the highest-scoring games in the nation this season.

Trailing 25-23 in game 1, Lewis' Enrique Escalante served the Flyers back into the lead. He registered an ace and a pair of tough serves to give Lewis a three-point run and a 27-26 lead. IPFW tied the score on the ensuing play, but Lewis scored three of the next four points for the victory.

Game 2 saw IPFW with another late lead, this time with a 27-24 margin. Escalante once again vaulted the Flyers back into the game with a pair of aces and a hard serve that led to a transition kill. Neither team led by more than a point the rest of the way until Lewis decided the game at 40-38.

IPFW held nine game points in the marathon, but was thwarted each time. Lewis squandered its first game point at 35-34, but atoned for it on its second chance at 39-38. IPFW's Matt Zbyszewski sailed a hitting attempt wide to give Lewis its second shot at game point. Escalante then registered a solo block for the win.

Mueller took over for the Flyers in game 3 as he racked up nine kills on 13 hitting attempts for a .692 hitting percentage in the game. He also had a block, an ace and a dig in the game.

In addition to his 20 kills, Mueller finished the match with five digs and two aces. Escalante added four aces and a team-high seven blocks. Jeff Soler tallied 18 kills, three digs, two blocks and a .469 hitting percentage in his final match in Neil Carey Arena.

In addition, senior Tom Mendoza registered 53 assists and had three digs and two blocks.

Lewis out-hit IPFW .368-.250 and out-dug them 26-21. The Mastodons held the edge in blocks 11-9, but Lewis led in aces 6-2.

Zbyszewski paced IPFW with 16 kills. Serdar Sicka added 12 kills and six blocks.

The Flyers will conclude their season with a doubleheader at Quincy this Saturday. Lewis will play its final MIVA match at 5 p.m. against Quincy and then will face Lees-McRae at 7 p.m. in their season finale.