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STANFORD, Calif. – No. 9 Lewis men's volleyball dropped their first match of the 2015 season on Saturday (Jan. 10) in a 3-2 (25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 24-26, 15-11) decision at Stanford's Maples Pavilion. The neutral site match was part of the American Volleyball Coaches Association College Showcase.

"We struggled a bit with some first ball contact and even struggled serving to begin the match," Lewis head coach Dan Friend said. "We won six straight sets and kind of got punched in the face at the start. But it was good to see us fight back."

Lewis trailed the first set just 23-22 but BYU scored the set's final two points to take game. It was all BYU in the second as the Cougars never trailed and went up 2-0.

The Flyers flipped a switch in the third set and won by five points. Senior Geoff Powell (Claremont, Calif./Claremont) had an ace for point 25.  

In set four, Lewis grabbed a 12-10 lead following three consecutive blocks and then a kill by senior Greg Petty (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North). Lewis led 21-20 only to see BYU score three straight and grab a 23-21 lead. BYU earned match point at 24-22 but back came the Flyers. A Lewis block and then a BYU ball handling error knotted up the set at 24. Then the Lewis offense took over. Senior James Hofmann (Cincinnati, Ohio/Archbishop McNicholas) had a kill to put Lewis up 25-24. BYU asked for time but Powell returned on the next point for a kill to give Lewis the set 26-24.

But the Flyers couldn't continue the momentum in the fifth set. The Cougars took leads of 5-1 and 8-4, forcing a Lewis timeout each time. The Flyers advanced within two at 13-11, but back-to-back BYU points ended the match.

"In the fifth we didn't side out right away and dug ourselves a hole," Friend said. "We clawed back in it but ultimately ran out of time. You can't do that in a short set. If it was to 25 perhaps we could have made those points up."

BYU out-hit the Flyers .299 to .207. Lewis was led offensively by senior Eric Fitterer (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville)'s 18 kills, three aces and seven block assists. Petty and Powell each recorded 14 kills. Petty had nine digs while Powell reached a double-double with 10 digs.

Jake Langlois recorded a match-high 22 kills for BYU.
 
"BYU is a good team and did some nice things," Friend said. "But we needed to be a little cleaner, a little crisper and not let some balls drop that did."

Lewis falls to 2-1. BYU improves to 1-1. The Flyers host Carthage on Wednesday (Jan. 14) in the 2015 home opener. First serve at Neil Carey Arena is set for 7 p.m.