ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – No. 12 Lewis men's volleyball dropped a five set decision to No. 11 Loyola on Tuesday evening 19-25, 25-15, 25-15, 17-25, 15-11. It is Lewis' second five-set loss to Loyola this season.

Sophomore Jay Petty (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) tied a career high with 21 kills. He also added four aces and four blocks (one solo) to combine for match-high 27.5 points. Petty also tied for the team lead with eight digs.

Petty's four aces helped Lewis record eight to Loyola's three. Lewis had five aces in the first set alone. Three of Lewis' first six points were aces.

Up 1-0 in the match, Lewis led the second frame 11-10 before Loyola went on a 15-4 run to close the set. Lewis struggled to side out in the third set as Loyola scored consecutive points on nine occasions to win the frame by 10.  The Flyers used a 6-1 run to open set four to help tie the match at two sets apiece.

The difference in the match came down to a three-point run by Loyola in the fifth set with the score tied at five. Lewis asked for time with the score 10-6 in favor of the Ramblers. Last time the two squads played Lewis trailed by the same score in the fifth set but followed with a 5-0 run to take the lead and force a wild 21-19 fifth set the Ramblers would eventually win. There was no comeback for the Flyers this time.

“Loyola made the key plays tonight and we didn't,” head coach Dan Friend said. “Last time we were able to rally late in the fifth set but that's a tough spot to put yourself in.”

Senior Brian Muesenfechter (St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers) (St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers) and sophomore Ian Karbiener (Orlando, Fla./Olympia) (Orlando, Fla./Olympia) each added seven kills.

Loyola improves to 16-5 (6-1 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association). Lewis falls to 15-7 (3-3 MIVA). The Flyers are next in action on Friday at MIVA rival Ball State. First serve is 6:30 p.m. CT.