PDF BoxFORT WAYNE, Ind. - No. 14 Lewis men's volleyball hit .379 in a 25-23, 25-19, 25-22
Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association victory over IPFW at Arnie Ball Court at the Gates Center on Friday (Feb. 19) evening.
After being edged late in sets one and two in a loss at Ball State on Thursday, a rally in set one on Friday at IPFW seemed to propell the Flyers to the sweep. A side-out fest in the first frame was ended when IPFW grabbed a 21-17 lead. The Flyers pushed back with four straight, capped on a block by seniors
Bobby Walsh (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel) and
Will McCall (Fellsmere, Fla./Sebastian River). A kill by Walsh and then an IPFW hitting error put the Flyers up 24-23. Facing set point, IPFW asked for time. The break didn't work as Lewis turned a dig into a kill by junior
Trevor Weiskircher (Loves Park, Ill./Boylan Catholic) two touches later for point 25. The first set had 17 ties and five lead changes.
"The guys pushed through the first set after our backs were against the wall," Lewis head coach
Dan Friend said. "We've seen us struggle a bit in those spots previously, but we turned a few points in our favor late in set one."
The visiting Flyers never looked back from there, out-hitting IPFW .419 to .296 in the second and .300 to .143 in the third.
Lewis found success in the middle. Junior middle hitter
Jacob Schmiegelt (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) hit .828 with 10 kills on 11 swings. Walsh had 11 kills with five block assists. Schmiegelt had a kill on set point in game two. Walsh had a kill on match point.
"Both guys were great," Friend said. "You are doing nice things offensively when one hits .800 and the other .600."
Senior
Scott Fifer (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) had 22 assists. Freshman
Matt Yoshimoto (Camarillo, Calif./Adolfo Camarillo) dished out 19 assists. Freshman
Jake Walenga (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) recorded eight of Lewis' 21 digs.
"We played a bit of a modified 6-2 and the guys embraced it," Friend said. "Will (McCall) did a nice job for us. It was a good team win."
Lewis improves to 10-6 (5-3 MIVA). IPFW falls to 4-8 (0-4 MIVA). The Flyers return to action on Tuesday (Feb. 23) with Loyola. First serve at Neil Carey Arena is set for 7 p.m.