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Phoenix, Ariz. – The No. 15 Lewis University men's volleyball team came from down two sets to defeat Grand Canyon 3-2 (21-25, 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, 15-6) for their second Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association win of the 2013 season on Sunday (Feb. 3) at Antelope Gym.
 
The Flyers improve to 6-5 on the year and 2-0 in MIVA action while the Antelopes fall to 4-6 on the season and 0-2 in league play.
 
“This was a good team fight to come back for the win,” Lewis head men's volleyball coach Dan Friend said. “To go on the road and get four and five-set conference wins, I am pretty happy.”
 
Sophomore opposite Eric Fitterer (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) led all players with a career-high 21 kills, seven digs and two blocks while redshirt senior outside hitter Jay Petty (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) added 14 kills and two blocks. Redshirt junior setter BJ Boldog (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) posted 52 assists, eight digs, six block assists and four kills.
 
In the first set the squads were knotted up 11 times before Grand Canyon was able to capitalize on two Lewis errors to take a 17-15 lead. The Antelopes' lead proved to be enough to take the first set 25-21.
 
The Antelopes took a quick three-point lead on the Flyers in the second set at 5-2, off of a block assist and a kill from Ryan Mather as well as a kill from Gerrard Lipscombe and a block assist Keith Smith. Lewis got within one point four different times, but was not able to string together multiple points to take the lead, falling to the Antelopes, 25-20.
 
In the third set, the Flyers jumped out to 11-4 lead getting a kill from Fitterer, a kill and a block assist from Petty and a solo block and block assist from freshman middle hitter Bobby Walsh (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel) (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel).
 
The Antelopes got within two points at 13-11, but the Flyers were able go on a 12-8 run to win the set 25-19 and force a fourth game. Sophomore middle hitter Sean Nelson (East Hampton, Conn./Xavier) (East Hampton, Conn./Xavier) tallied three kills and a solo block during the run.
 
Lewis opened the fourth set on a 6-0 run. Boldog and Walsh tallied three straight block assists, while Fitterer earned a kill and the Flyers capitalized on two Grand Canyon errors. A long Grand Canyon service allowed the Antelopes to tie the set at 13-all. Lewis' Fitterer broke the 20-all tie with a kill and tallied three more to win the set 25-23.
 
Fitterer carried his hot streak into the fifth set and was at the service line as the Flyers took a 10-1 lead. Petty and Boldog each registered two kills, while Walsh and redshirt sophomore outside hitter Geoff Powell (Claremont, Calif./Claremont) (Claremont, Calif./Claremont) earned a block assist each. Fitterer earned an ace while Grand Canyon made three attack errors.
 
Lewis' momentum was too much for Grand Canyon to overcome as Fitterer registered the set, 15-6, and match winning kill.

Ben Ponnet led the Antelopes with 12 kills while Mather and Lipscombe each tallied 12 kills. 
 
Lewis returns to Neil Carey Arena to open home MIVA action against Lindenwood on Friday (Feb. 8) and Quincy Saturday (Feb. 9). Both matches are set to start at 7 PM.