Feb. 22, 2011

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

CHICAGO - Down 10-6 in the fifth set, the No. 14 Lewis men's volleyball probably didn't know what was in store down the stretch at No. 12 Loyola on Tuesday evening. A Flyer rally triggered a fifth set that saw seven match points, including three for Lewis. However it would be the Ramblers pulling out the 23-25, 25-11, 18-25, 25-23, 21-19 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association victory.

Five straight Lewis points in the fifth set turned a 10-6 deficit to an 11-10 lead for the Flyers. The teams traded points until Loyola scored twice to make it 15-14. The Flyers denied a pair of match points until Lewis earned their own at 17-16 and 18-17. Each time a Loyola kill extended the match. Finally kills by Mike Bunting and Dainis Berzings for Loyola ended it. The frame had 13 ties and five lead changes.

The opening set saw similar drama with 14 ties and four lead changes. The final lead change came when Lewis scored the final three points of the set after Loyola held a 23-22 lead. Senior Brian Muesenfechter (St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers) had an ace for point 25. He also helped set up point 24 thanks to a powerful serve which prevented Loyola from running their offense in system.

The second set was all Loyola after the Ramblers opened an 8-2 lead.

Behind six kills from junior Matt Gallik (Evergreen Park, Ill/Brother Rice) and five from by sophomore Jay Petty (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) the Flyers went back ahead with a seven-point third set victory.

Lewis used three straight points to tie the fourth set at 13. It was Muesenfechter serving for two of the points in the mini-run. Loyola led 17-14 when the Flyers tied it 17 another 3-0 spurt. However Loyola scored the next three points. The Flyers put another run together to tie it up at 23 but Loyola earned the final two points to force what would be a frantic fifth set.

"I was glad to see us fight back but it's tough when you're so close and it is in your hands," head coach Dan Friend said.

Gallik finished with 17 kills and five blocks (two solo). Petty totaled 15 kills. Junior Aaron Flick (North Ridgeville, Ohio/St. Edward) added 11 kills with four block assists. Muesenfecter had eight kills, five aces and three blocks.

Loyola improves to 10-3 (5-0 MIVA). Lewis falls to 10-4 (3-1 MIVA). Lewis is next on the court on Friday when the Flyers host St. Francis (Pa.) at 7 p.m.