Feb. 5, 2005

Final Stats

ROMEOVILLE, Ill.- - It took two hours and twenty-five minutes to decide a winner in the first match of the Lewis Invitational, but when the dust settled 9th-ranked Pacific upended 13th-ranked Lewis 35-33, 24-30, 30-28, 22-30, 20-18.

Lewis (4-4) had five match points after trailing 8-4 in the fifth game, but couldn't come up with the match-clinching play. Lewis held the side out advantage in the fifth game until the score was tied at 18-all. The Flyers' Jeff Soler registered a hitting error that gave Pacific the side out edge and its first match point. Enrique Escalante then sent an angle shot out of bounds that handed the win to the visiting Tigers (9-4).

Pacific led 13-11 in game 5 before Lewis made a three-point run and earned its first match point. Greg Pochopien had a kill, Tom Mendoza tallied an ace and Pochopien and Matt Mueller teamed for a block that gave Lewis a 14-13 lead. The teams would trade sideouts for the next nine points before Pacific broke free for the win.

Both squads received stellar efforts from several players. Lewis was led by Enrique Escalante (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/)'s career-high 25 kills, .556 hitting percentage four digs and five blocks. Jared Dayton added 21 kills, two aces, four blocks and a .486 hitting percentage. Soler chipped in with 19 kills and seven digs.

For Pacific, Brian Adamson paced the team with 20 kills. Bryson Metz had 19 kills, 11 digs and a match-high seven blocks. Setter Mitch Hazelett handed out 67 assists.

The Flyers trailed 28-26 in game 1, but fought back to earn a game point at 31-30. Metz followed with a kill to erase the chance and then Brad Alexander posted an ace to regain the lead for the Tigers. Mauricio Brizuela ended the game with a kill at 35-33.

Game 2 was decided by the offensive play from Lewis' middles. Escalante and Pochopien combined for seven kills on 10 attempts without a hitting error in the game.

Game 3 saw the Flyers battle back from a 28-24 deficit to close within 29-28 before Pacific closed the game with a kill.

Lewis returns to action in the Lewis Invitational Saturday night with a match against California Baptist, the top-ranked NAIA team in the nation. Match time is 6:30 p.m., while Loyola Chicago will face Pacific at 8:30 p.m.