Jan. 17, 2009

Box Score

PROVO, Utah. - Senior Alex Vigansky (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper) had 12 kills with no errors and recorded seven blocks including two solos, but the No. 11 Flyers fell 3-1 (26-30, 30-27, 30-22, 30-25) to No. 10 Brigham Young in a non-conference match on Saturday evening.

The Flyers used a 7-3 run in the opening set to turn a two-point lead into a 14-8 advantage. Lewis never looked back, with senior Billy Sahagian (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) earning the 30th point on a solo block.

Set two was back and forth, but a 3-0 run turned a 22 all match into a 25-22 BYU lead. The Flyers couldn't rally and the match was evened at one.

Both sets three and four were tight early on, with each tied at 13 till BYU used runs to take both. Lewis hit only .118 in the third set. In set four the Cougars used a 5-1 run to grab an 18-14 lead and cruise the rest of the way.

The loss came in the arena where the national semifinals and final will be held later this year.

"The outcome tonight wasn't what we wanted, but it was a good experience," head coach Dan Friend said. "It was a great crowd and we now have a good feel for playing in this gym and we hope to be back."

Junior Nathan Klaas (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) had 16 kills. Senior Drew Pickering (Wauwatosa, Wis./Wauwatosa West) finished with 11 kills and seven digs. Junior setter Mike Iandolo (Orlando, Fla./Long Beach State) had 51 assists and six digs.

The Flyers struggled to serve for the second straight match, recording 20 errors and only one ace.

"The altitude does take a bit to get used to," Friend said regarding his team's serving struggles, "We just needed to take a bit more off some of them. Now we know if we return."

The Flyers hit .278 while the Cougars recorded a .304 hitting percentage.

Lewis falls to 1-1 while the Cougars are now 2-3. Lewis hosts Carthage on Wednesday night in their home opener at 7 p.m.