Jan. 30, 2009
Box Score
Box Score in PDF Format 
MUNCIE, Ind. - Senior Billy Sahagian (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) hit .421 with nine kills and three blocks, but the Ball State Cardinals defeated No. 11 Lewis men's volleyball 3-0 (30-26, 32-30, 34-32) Friday evening in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association opener for both schools.
The Flyers scored three straight points in the opening set to take a 13-9 lead. But the Cardinals chipped at the lead to eventually grab a 20-19 advantage. Kills by Ball State's Ethan Pheister and Matt McCarthy gave the Cardinals a 25-22 lead. The Flyers called timeout, and responded with two straight points. But the Cardinals scored the next three to take command of the set.
Ball State had all the momentum in the second set, leading 19-16. But then the Flyers scored eight of the next ten points to take a 23-21 advantage. Mike Iandolo (Orlando, Fla./Long Beach State) had a kill to make the score 29-26. But the Cardinals fended off three straight points and then took the lead 30-29 before a Sahagian kill allowed Lewis to halt a Cardinals' set point. But Ball State took the next two points for the set victory.
The Flyers trailed 24-19 in the third when things clicked. A 7-2 stretch knotted it at 25. Sahagian had a solo and a block assist during the run. The squads exchanged points until a kill by junior Nathan Klaas (Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial) and a block by junior Craig Boller (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) and senior David Kelnhofer (Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial) gave Lewis set point at 30-29. But it would be one of three set points the Cardinals would turn away before winning the match at 34-32.
"Ball State was more consistent than us," head coach Dan Friend said. "They did a good job finishing and we didn't."
Klaas finished with 14 kills and six digs. Senior Drew Pickering (Wauwatosa, Wis./Wauwatosa West) added nine kills and six digs. Senior Nick Perakes (Orlando, Fla./Cypress Creek) added 12 digs.
The Cardinals hit .311 while limiting Lewis to a .188 percentage. Ball State held a 15-5 edge in blocks.
Ball State improves to 1-3 (1-0 MIVA). Lewis falls to 3-2 (0-1 MIVA). The Flyers return to the court on Friday to face conference-foe IPFW in Fort Wayne at 6 p.m. CT.
