Men's Volleyball | 1/2/2015 7:28:00 AM

No. 9 Lewis men's volleyball hosts Windsor in an exhibition on Friday (Jan. 2) at 7 p.m. at Neil Carey Arena and for the first time since 2010 BJ Boldog (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) will not be setting for the Flyers. The three-time All-American graduated and is now playing professionally in Germany. However, if you define the 2015 Flyers by who isn't here, you'll miss a lot.
 
First and foremost, Lewis returns a pair of AVCA All-American outside hitters. Senior Geoff Powell (Claremont, Calif./Claremont) was a first team selection in 2014 and senior Greg Petty (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) was named honorable mention. Opposite hitter senior Eric Fitterer (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) is a two-year starter, as is two-time All-MIVA Second Team selection middle hitter junior Bobby Walsh (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel). Senior Lucas Yanez (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs) was a 2014 All-MIVA Second Team selection and the 2015 MIVA Preseason Libero of the Year.
 
"We have several guys who have spent a lot of time on the court," Lewis head coach Dan Friend said. "When you go in with a new setter it's nice to not have to be concerned about several other spots."
 
At the outside hitter spot, it is other teams who are the ones concerned with the duo of Powell and Petty.
 
"I'd compare the combo of Geoff and Gregg to anyone else in the country," Friend said. "Both guys are tremendous but have different styles. Geoff is high flying and Greg is overpowering. They have great range in and out of system and allow us to score points in transition better than other teams."
 
Fitterer, Yanez and Walsh bring considerable experience. They have a combined 157 matches played.
 
"Fit, Lucas and Bob are all X-factors for us this year," Friend said. "All three have experience and have had success and I expect all three to be better. If Geoff and Greg are playing at the level we expect them to and those three guys take that next step then we are looking at an extremely talented strong team."
 
The Flyers have two options at the setting position with junior Scott Fifer (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) and redshirt freshman Gert Lisha (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North). Fifer started three matches last season, earning 43 assists against NCAA Tournament qualifier Erskine. Lisha used his redshirt year last season to develop his skills.

"It is a difficult decision, but a good position to be in as both are playing well, battling and bring different things," Friend said.
 
Last season the Flyers picked up the program's second NCAA Tournament bid in three seasons. To accomplish this goal again and win the MIVA, Friend knows where his Flyers will need to improve.
 
"We need to be more consistent with our overall ball control," Friend said. "Our first ball contact, passing, serving and defense all needs to improve from last year. We also need to improve offensively. We were around 12.5 kills per set, but we'll need to get over 13. If we get better in transition and earn points we didn't get last year, we should be able to win matches we didn't win last season."
 
Every team looks to be playing their best at the end of the season. However, with a new setter on the court, you can count on the Flyers improving as the year goes on as the team gels. Some of this improvement will be done in the gym during practices.
 
"We have five freshmen who are all going to redshirt but have raised the ball control in the gym," Friend said. "It has given practices a different feel. Plus eight seniors, including a captain like Eric Butch (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South). He does a incredible job of leading and managing the personalities of each guy to keep the team together. Seniors like Eric Butch (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South), Tom Logan (Kenmore, Wash./Bishop Blanchet), Andy Orf (St. Charles, Mo./Christian Brothers), and James Hofmann (Cincinnati, Ohio/Archbishop McNicholas) help the team battle through the up and downs of a long season."
 
The long season opens Monday at No. 8 UC Irvine. Matches against Stanford and BYU follow the same week with both being played on Stanford's campus in Palo Alto, California Lewis hopes the season ends in the same place, as Stanford is hosting the NCAA Championships May 5-9.