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MUNCIE, Ind. – Senior Geoff Powell (Claremont, Calif./Claremont) hit .593 with 17 kills to guide No. 2 Lewis men's volleyball to a 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-15) win at No. 15 Ball State on Thursday (Feb. 12) in a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association match.

Powell, the reigning MIVA Offensive Player of the Week, helped Lewis out-hit the Cardinals .354 to .179.

"Geoff elevated his game tonight," Lewis head coach Dan Friend said. "He made really smart decisions and scored points for us when we needed them. I think when you get an older group like this different guys will step up each match and Geoff was the guy tonight."

In the opening set, Ball State advanced within a point at 20-19 when Lewis asked for time. The Flyers responded out of the huddle with a 4-1 run. Junior Bobby Walsh (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel) had a kill and a block in the run.

The second set was all Lewis, with the Flyers taking a 15-3 lead thanks to 6-0 run with senior Eric Fitterer (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) serving and a 7-0 stretch with senior Greg Petty (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) serving.
 
It was more of the same in the third, with the Lewis offense clicking on all cylinders during a 9-0 run. Powell had two kills and a block in the match clinching stretch.

"We did a really nice job from the serving line with four aces and only seven errors," Friend said. "It put some pressure on them and ultimately set up our block."

Lewis out-blocked Ball State 12-5.

Walsh got the better of his brother, Ball State freshman middle hitter Matt Walsh, on the scoreboard and in the box score. Bobby Walsh (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel) finished with four blocks (two solo), to Matt Walsh's three block assists. Matt and Bobby entered the match first and third in the nation in blocks, respectively.

Lewis improves to 11-1 (3-0 MIVA). Ball State falls to 7-4 (2-2 MIVA). Lewis hosts No. 9 IPFW on Saturday (Feb. 14) in a 7 p.m. first serve at Neil Carey Arena.