Feb. 17, 2009

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Senior Drew Pickering (Wauwatosa, Wis./Wauwatosa West) hit .650 with 14 kills and a match-high 14 digs to help the No. 12 Lewis University men's volleyball team defeat Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association foe and local rival Loyola-Chicago 3-1 (30-25, 30-23, 27-30, 30-28) on Tuesday evening at Neil Carey Arena.

Pickering was one of five Flyers to record double-digit kills. Senior Billy Sahagian (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) had 13 on just 15 swings. Junior Nathan Klaas (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) added 13, with five digs. Junior Alex Vigansky (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper) had 11 kills, including several powerful throw downs on errant Rambler over passes. Vigansky also recorded four blocks (one solo) to move into second all-time in Lewis history with 483. Senior David Kelnhofer (Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial) was the fifth to hit double-digit kills with 10 and seven digs.

"Drew is playing at high level, night in and night out," head coach Dan Friend said. "Our middles (Sahagian and Vigansky) did a fantastic job not only hitting, but blocking and touching attempts."

The first two sets had a similar theme, Lewis taking an early lead and the Ramblers rallying only to see the Flyers pull away late. In the opening set the Ramblers came back to take a 19-17 lead, but Lewis scored the next three after calling a timeout. It was 23 all when the Flyers went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by two Kelnhofer kills.

Lewis led 15-11 in set two before the Ramblers went on a run and grabbed an 18-17 advantage. Kills by Klaas tied it up and then made it 22-19 to force a Loyola timeout. Lewis held on from there.

The third set was back-and-forth until Loyola finished on a 4-1 run to turn a 26 all score, into a 30-27 victory.

Set four was much like the first two. The Flyers led big early, causing Loyola to call both of their timeouts by the time the score was 16-9. The Ramblers responded with a 9-1 run to take an 18-17 lead. But the Flyers scored the next three points and never trailed again. Pickering recorded the match point on a feed from junior setter Mike Iandolo (Orlando, Fla./Long Beach State). Iandolo finished with 53 assists, eight digs and a solo block.

The victory is the Flyers' fourth straight over Loyola. The Flyers out-dug Loyola 53 to 48, and out-hit the Ramblers .319 to .227.

The Ramblers fall to 5-3 (0-2 MIVA). Lewis improves to 8-2 (2-1 MIVA). The Flyers host St. Ambrose in a non-conference match on Friday at 7 p.m.