Postmatch Press Conference

Big Rapids, Mich. - Lewis University women's volleyball beat the Ferris State Bulldogs Saturday (Dec. 3) 25-21, 26-24, 25-18. By winning the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship Lewis now advances to the Elite 8. This is the first time the Flyers have won the Regional under the guide of head coach Lorelee Smith.

"I can't stop smiling, I'm so proud to get to coach this team," Coach Smith said. "They have embodied past Lewis precedence and taken it one step further. This is a huge success for the program as well as a special achievement for these 15 players."

On the night the Flyers were led by the attacking of sophomore Elizabeth Hyland (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) who had a match high 13 kills also recording four ace serves. Redshirt junior Maddie Seliga (St. Louis, Mo./Nerinx Hall) contributed nine kills. She also had 17 digs along with redshirt senior Nicole Yuede (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell North). Abby Becker (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) the redshirt sophomore ended the match with 34 assists helping the Flyers get to their 41 kill night.

Lewis hit a team .218 (41 kills, 12 errors, and 133 attacks) as a team, while Ferris State hit  .140 (37-18-136). After beating the Bulldogs the Flyers improve to 28-7 while the Ferris State ends it's season 30-6.

The Flyers will travel to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to compete in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship on Thursday (Dec. 8). Time and opponent TBD.