HTML Box Score / PDF Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – No. 1 Lewis men's volleyball's bid for a 2015 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tournament Championship came up short Friday (May 1) evening at Neil Carey Arena. No. 4 Loyola topped the Flyers 3-1 (16-25, 25-15, 29-27, 25-20) with the match swinging on a dramatic third set.

The win gives the Ramblers an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. Lewis will have to wait until Saturday to hear their fate. The Flyers entered the week No. 1 in the RPI rankings. The NCAA bids will be announced at noon CT on NCAA.com

The top seeded Flyers dominated the start of the match much to the delight of the capacity crowd. Lewis won the set thanks to an 11-4 run to close the frame. Senior Greg Petty (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) had a kill for point 25.

Second seeded Loyola turned the tables in the second; scoring six of the final seven points to win by 10 and tie the match 1-1.

The key third set was tied nine times. Lewis saw leads of 13-10 and 21-19 erased by Loyola. Despite the push back by the Ramblers, Lewis was the first to set point at 25-24. It was the first of three set points Loyola turned away without the Flyers ever swinging for the point. MIVA Player of the Year Thomas Jaeschke gave Loyola their first lead of the set at 27-26 thanks to back-to-back kills. A kill by sophomore Jacob Schmiegelt (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) denied the first Loyola set point, but the Ramblers went to Jaeschke again with the score 28-27 to give the set to the Ramblers 29-27.

Loyola seemed to carry the momentum of the comeback victory into the fourth. The Ramblers grabbed leads of 7-3 and 14-8, forcing Lewis timeouts both times. The Flyers did make a run, making it a four-point game at 19-15 on a kill by senior Eric Fitterer (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville). Loyola asked for time and Jaeschke responded out of the break with a kill to put the momentum back on Loyola's side.
 
"Loyola capitalized on some opportunities they created in key moments, especially in game three for sure," Lewis head coach Dan Friend said. "Give credit to Loyola I thought they passed better and did a nice job of keeping themselves in system."

Jaeschke finished with a match-high 20 kills. He helped Loyola out-hit Lewis .398 to .357.

The Flyers were led offensively by senior Geoff Powell (Claremont, Calif./Claremont)'s 18 kills. He had one error for a .567 attack percentage. Defensively he had a match-high nine digs. Petty totaled 12 kills and four blocks while adding an ace. Lewis setter Scott Fifer (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) recorded 50 assists.

The MIVA announced a seven-member All-Tournament team following the match. Schmiegelt, Fitterer and Powell picked up the honors for the Flyers. Loyola's Peter Hutz, Cody Caldwell, Ricky Gevis and Jaeschke were named to the team for Loyola.

Lewis falls to 26-3. Loyola improves to 25-2.