INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The 19th ranked Lewis women's volleyball team opened the 11th annual Midwest Region Crossover with a sweep of Walsh (25-19, 25-23, 25-22) on Friday morning at The Academy Volleyball Club in Indianapolis, Ind. Elizabeth Hyland (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) led three Flyers (15-5) in double figures with 15 kills.

Lewis trailed by three early in the opening set before going on a 6-2 run to take an 11-10 lead on an ace from Jamie Poppen (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway West). The Flyers extend their lead to four after back-to-back kills from Alexandra Preuss (Elmhurst, Ill./York). The Cavaliers (12-9) wouldn't get closer than four points the rest of the set as Lewis closed it out scoring seven of the last 12 points to win 25-19.

The second set was a back and forth affair. Lewis led by four midway through the frame but Walsh rallied with an 8-2 run to take a 19-17 lead after an attack error by Caroline Stefanon (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg). The Flyers answered that run with a 6-1 run of its own to regain the lead at 23-20 after a kill from Hyland. The Cavaliers refused to go away scoring three straight points to even things at 23 and forced Lewis to take a timeout. Out of the break the Flyers got a kill from Hyland and then an attack error by Lauren Loucks gave the set to Lewis 25-23.

The final set was similar to the second one featuring eight ties and five lead changes.  Walsh opened the set with a 10-5 lead but Lewis ran off five straight to even things at 10. The Cavaliers regained the lead and extended it to three thanks to a 7-4 run. The Flyers got to within 18-17 after a kill from Colleen Wilhelm (Euclid, Ohio/Lake Catholic) but Walsh scored three of the next four points to extend its lead to 21-18.

Lewis responded with six straight points thanks the front line blocking of Preuss, Stefanon and Abby Becker (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls). The trio combined for three blocks during that run and forced another error. The Cavaliers slowed the run momentarily after an error but the Flyers ended it with a kill from Stefanon to win 25-22.

Lewis ended the match outhitting Walsh .219-to-.189 and had 49 kills compared to 32 for the Cavaliers. Hyland finished with a match-high in kills while Stefanon added 11 and Preuss finished with 10. Becker had 35 assists and Ronni Katarzynski (Winfield, Ill./West Chicago) had 19 digs.

Loucks led Walsh with 10 kills while Olivia Zanolli had 26 assists and Amanda Adoranti had 19 digs.

The Flyers return to the court later on Friday taking on Hillsdale at 4:30 p.m. (CDT).