Oct. 31, 2008
Box Score
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Box Score in PDF Format 
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – No. 21 Lewis defeated Saint Joseph’s 3-2 (27-29, 25-12, 25-8, 22-25, 15-13) on Friday evening to avenge a loss to the Pumas just three days ago. After the Pumas took a 12-11 lead in set five it looked like it might be a Halloween trick for the Flyers. But a 4-1 run to close it out gave Lewis the treat they were looking for to the delight of a raucous Neil Carey Arena.
Senior Justina Begemann (Odessa, Mo./Odessa) notched a double-double with 11 digs and 10 kills while adding six block assists. But it was her final kill that was the most important. On match point Begemann made an off balance attack attempt that snuck in the back line for the clinching score.
Defensively, five Flyers recorded double-digit digs. Sophomore Rachel Ruedi (Mahomet, Ill. /Mahomet Seymour) had a team-high 19 to go with 48 assists.
“Rachel worked really hard out there tonight,” head coach Lorelee Smith said. “I love what she brought tonight.”
The Flyers out-blocked the Pumas 16-7. Junior Sara deBuhr (Urbandale, Iowa/Urbandale) was all over the net, notching 13 blocks (four solo). deBuhr also added 12 kills for the rare kill-block double-double.
“Sara was phenomenal tonight,” Smith said. “She was very aggressive both offensively and defensively and it paid off.”
Junior Stephanie Sagat (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South) led the Flyers with 16 kills while tallying 15 digs. Sophomore Lauren Seliga (St. Louis, Mo./Nerinx) recorded 12 kills and 10 digs off the bench.
“Lauren came in and gave the team above and beyond what was expected,” Smith said.
The opening set was back and forth, and it looked like the Flyers were going to take it after grabbing a 22-21 lead with a 3-0 run. But a Saint Joseph’s 2-0 run gave them the lead back. The Pumas had the first set point at 24-23, only to be rejected by a deBuhr kill. The Flyers had three set points, but two service errors and an attack error opened the door for the Pumas. Scrappy defense and several long rallies eventually led to the Pumas taking the opening set.
The Flyers opened it up in sets two and three, including winning set three by 17 points. The Flyers had a perfect sideout percentage in set three and hit .500.
Set four was an emotional roller coaster. With the Flyers having all the momentum, the Pumas were the ones to open the set on a 12-4 run. With the score at 17-10 all of a sudden the Flyers came on, going on a 10-1 run and grabbing a 20-18 lead. With the Flyers five points away from victory, the Pumas came off the mat once again, finishing the match on a 7-2 run and forcing a fifth set.
The difference in the final set was Lewis’ 3-0 run featuring a Sagat kill, a combo block by Begemann and deBuhr and then a solo by deBuhr to give the Flyers a 14-12 lead. A sideout by the Pumas only set up Begemann’s dramatic finish.
Sara Cramer had 13 kills and 19 digs for the Pumas. Saint Joseph’s is now 12-15 (5-10 Great Lakes Valley Conference). Lewis improves to 25-6 (13-1 GLVC). The Flyers host arch-rival No. 25 Indianapolis tomorrow at 3 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear black for the match.
A Catholic University sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis offers nearly 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, accelerated degree completion options for working adults, various aviation programs and 22 graduate programs in nine fields. The mid-sized university is being honored for the fifth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. For more information please visit www.lewisu.edu.
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