Oct. 17, 2008
Box Score
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INDIANAPOLIS – A week after rallying from down 0-2 to defeat UMSL, the No. 17 Flyers attempted to accomplish the same task against Michigan Tech on Friday evening at the GLVC/GLIAC Challenge. This time the Flyers accomplished only two-thirds of the challenge, falling to the Huskies 3-2 (25-23, 25-22, 18-25, 24-26, 15-8).
Michigan Tech controlled most of set one, grabbing an early 16-8 lead that the Flyers could never recover from. Lewis held a slim lead for most of set two, but after calling a timeout the Huskies finished the set on a 6-1 run to turn a two-point deficit into a two-set lead.
Lewis bounced back with a set three victory, thanks to an early 5-0 run and a 4-0 stretch to close the set.
Set four was the most exciting of the five, featuring 10 ties and four lead changes. The Flyers had a 9-6 lead when the Huskies scored three straight to tie it at nine. Lewis scored the next three, highlighted by an ace by junior Sara deBuhr (Urbandale, Iowa/Urbandale). But then the Huskies scored the next three to tie it right back up at 12. It was tied at 15 when Michigan Tech grabbed an 18-15 lead only to have Lewis knot it right back up at 18. After the Flyers took a 23-21 lead the Huskies tallied the next three to earn match point. After a Lewis timeout, the Flyers fended off match point with a powerful kill by junior Stephanie Sagat (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South). For the final two points of the set it was the freshman to freshman connection of setter Katie Crawford (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) to outside hitter Colleen Mitros (Mokena, Ill./Providence).
The Huskies started set five on a 5-1 run and never looked back. Lewis got within 10-7 on a Sagat kill, but a Michigan Tech timeout thwarted the Flyers’ final comeback bid.
After the Flyers’ five-set loss to Wayne State earlier in the day, Lewis has played 26 sets in the last nine days, all away from Neil Carey Arena.
Sagat finished with 16 kills and 11 digs. Senior Justina Begemann (Odessa, Mo. (Odessa) finished with 14 kills and 16 digs. Senior Lauren Hatter (Avon, Ind./Avon) totaled a match-high 23 digs.
The Flyers are now 19-5. Michigan Tech improves to 15-6.
Lewis plays Ferris State tomorrow at Noon CT to close out the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover. After a day of competition the GLIAC holds a 16-5 advantage over the GLVC.
