Feb. 27, 2009

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Senior Drew Pickering (Wauwatosa, Wis./Wauwatosa West) and junior Nathan Klaas (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) combined for 38 kills on Friday evening, but No. 10 Lewis fell to defending national champion No. 3 Penn State 3-1 (30-21, 30-23, 25-30, 30-22).

Pickering hit .341 with 24 kills and seven digs. Klaas finished with an even better .407 hitting percentage, notching 14 kills on 27 swings.

"Both of our pin players (Pickering and Klaas) did a good job of getting high and finishing with kills," head coach Dan Friend said.

The Flyers led set two 11-8 when the Nittany Lions went on a 7-0 run. The stretch gave all the momentum to Penn State and they controlled the set from there.

Junior Craig Boller (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) began the third set with an ace, a sign of good things to come for the Flyers. Lewis led 8-4 when Penn State called at timeout. But nothing would stop the Flyers, scoring back-to-back points nine times to take the third set.

Lewis led 7-6 in the fourth when Penn State went on a 9-3 run. The Flyers chipped at the Nittany Lion lead to get within two at 18-16. However a Penn State timeout ignited a six point spurt to put the match away.

"We got stuck in a couple rotations and broke down a bit," Friend said. "Penn State is good and they will do that to you."

Four Nittany Lions finished with double-digit kills. Junior Mike Iandolo (Orlando, Fla./Long Beach State) added 56 assists and five block assists for Lewis. Senior Billy Sahagian (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) added seven kills and six block assists.

"We took a game from the No. 3 team in country, in their gym while not playing our best volleyball," Friend said. "The guys know how big tomorrow is and they will be fired up."

On deck for Lewis on Saturday is defending conference champion Ohio State. First serve is at 6 p.m. CT.

Lewis falls to 10-3. Penn State improves to 13-1.