Box Score  / Box Score (pdf)

Romeoville, Ill. – Led by junior opposite Eric Fitterer (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) hitting .615 with 10 kills and two errors on 13 attempts, the No. 10 Lewis University men's volleyball team defeated Saint Francis (PA) 3-1 (25-13, 25-12, 18-25, 25-15) on Friday (March 21) at Neil Carey Arena.
 
The Flyers improve to 15-5 on the year while the Red Flash fall to 9-9 on the season.
 
Lewis sophomore middle blocker Bobby Walsh (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel) tallied eight kills with one error on nine attempts for a .778 hitting percentage while collecting a solo block and two block assists. Junior outside hitters Greg Petty (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) and Geoff Powell (Claremont, Calif./Claremont) both picked up eight kills while senior middle blocker Yiwei Zhou (Nanjing, China/Nanjing No. 1) and redshirt sophomore opposite Patrick Lilly (East Northport, N.Y./Commack) each tallied four putaways for the Flyers. Sophomore setter Scott Fifer (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) dished out 36 assists while junior liberos Lucas Yanez (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) and Andy Orf (St. Charles, Mo./Christian Brothers) both had five digs.
 
The Flyers jumped out to swing .463 collecting 25 kills with six errors on 41 attempts while holding the Red Flash to a -.038 (12 K, 14 E, 52TA) hitting percentage through the first two sets. Lewis also out-blocked Saint Francis 5.0 to 1.5.
 
Lewis went with a different line-up in the third set and Saint Francis took advantage. The Red Flash hit .346 (14 K, 5 E, 26 TA) while holding the Flyers to a .040 (10 K, 9 E, 25 TA) hitting percentage. The visitors also out blocked the Flyers, 5-0, in the third set.
 
The Flyers roared back in the fourth set to hit a match-high .643 with 10 putaways and one error on 14 attack attempts while holding the Red Flash to a .000 (8 K, 8 E, 21 TA). Petty picked up four of his eight kills in the frame while Powell and Walsh each tallied two blocks for the Flyers.
 
The Saint Francis offense was led by Mike Marshman's nine putaways while setter Adam Kniffen had 27 assists.
 
"The guys came out charged and really energized to get the win," Lewis head men's volleyball coach Dan Friend said. "It is always good to get a win after a tough loss (on Tuesday at Loyola).
 
"The guys are in a good mental spot heading into tomorrow's match against Penn State."
 
The Flyers return to Neil Carey Arena on Saturday (March 22) for a Red Out contest against No. 14 Penn State, with first serve set for 7 PM. The first 40 students with ID will receive a red Lewis men's volleyball t-shirt.