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ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play on Friday (Sept. 18) with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 34-32) win over Drury at Neil Carey Arena.

The 34 points scored on Friday in the third set are the most scored by Lewis in a set since sets were played to 25 in 2008. The previous high was 33, when Lewis topped UW-Parkside 33-31 in the third set of a sweep on Sept. 18, 2012. The last time Lewis scored 34 points in a set was 2007. It was a 34-32 fourth set match clinching victory vs. Northern Kentucky on Nov. 3 at Neil Carey Arena. However in 2007 sets were played up to 30 points.
 
Freshman Elizabeth Hyland (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) led Lewis with 13 kills while adding 15 digs for a double-double. Senior Alexis Davito (Crest Hill, Ill./Lockport) had 10 kills with no errors for a .500 hitting percentage.
 
"I think both teams fought really hard through all three sets," Lewis head coach Lorelee Smith said. "We have some freshmen and sophomores out there that played like younger players at times, but also really stepped up to finish the match."
 
The Flyers used an 8-1 run in the first set to help take an early 1-0 lead in the match. Set two had 11 ties and three lead changes, but Lewis made key plays down the stretch to take the frame after Drury scored three straight points to tie the score at 21. Davito had kills for points 22 and 24.

The third set was a marathon affair with 19 ties and seven lead changes. Drury was the first with set point at 24-23 only to see sophomore Aly Schneider (Granger, Ind./Penn) deny it with a kill. The Flyers turned away two more Drury set points and Drury denied five Lewis match points until the sixth was the charm for the Flyers. Drury used their final sub with the score tied at 32 and Lewis took advantage by notching back-to-back kills to end the match.
 
"I don't know what it is about conference but when you start it is like a whole new season," Smith said.  "When you get that win first win it gives you confidence."

Lewis had five aces while not surrendering a single ace. Junior Nicole Yuede (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell North) led Lewis with two. She also led Lewis with 17 digs.

Freshman McKenna Pierson (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial) had 25 assists. Freshman Abby Becker (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Monomonee Falls) totaled 20 assists.

Lewis improves to 9-1 (1-0 GLVC). Drury falls to 7-2 (0-1 GLVC). Lewis returns to the court on Saturday (Sept. 19) to host Missouri S&T in a 3 p.m. first serve.