SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The 25th ranked Lewis women's volleyball team defeated No. 22 Rockhurst 3-1 in the Midwest Regional Championship match at the O'Reilly Family Events Center on Saturday evening in Springfield, Mo. The Flyers (28-7) win their second regional championship in the last three years.

Lewis won the rubber match in the season series against the Hawks (32-7) and avenged last weekend's loss to Rockhurst in the GLVC semifinals. The Flyers advance to Pittsburgh, Pa., for the Elite Eight match against an opponent and time to be determined on Thursday, Nov. 29 at the A.J. Palumbo Center.

Abby Becker (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls), Alexandra Preuss (Elmhurst, Ill./York), Ava Venema (Westmont, Ill./Timothy Christian), Elizabeth Hyland (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) and Ronni Katarzynski (Winfield, Ill./West Chicago) were all named to the All-Midwest Regional team.

Lewis led 22-19 in the opening set but the Hawks countered with a 5-0 run to reach set point at 24-22 on a kill by Alyssa Woodman. The Flyers fought off a set point with a kill from Colleen Wilhelm (Euclid, Ohio/Lake Catholic) but Rockhurst won the set on the next point getting a kill from Emily Matio.

Lewis had a hard time containing Matio and Woodman as the duo combined for 11 of the Hawks 17 kills in the opening set.

The Flyers used a 10-3 run to take control of set two extending their lead from 11-9 to 21-12 when Wilhelm and Stefanon teamed up for a double block on Woodman. Rockhurst wouldn't get closer than eight points the rest of the frame as Lewis evened the match with a 25-15 win.

The swing set featured eight ties and six lead changes. Lewis raced out to an early lead before the Hawks came back to take an 11-8 lead on a double block from Matio and Dani Prusha.

The Flyers still trailed 17-14 before running off six straight points to reclaim the lead. Rockhurst refused to go away countering with four straight points to regain the lead at 21-20. Lewis answered right back with three straight points including back-to-back kills from Venema to take a 23-21 lead.

The Hawks fired right back with three straight points to get to set point at 24-23 after back-to-back kills from Matio. A service error by Mary Rolf evened things at 24 and then Preuss put the Flyers back in front with a kill at 25-24. Wilhelm gave the set to Lewis when she stuffed Woodman at the net to end it at 26-24.

The Flyers led again early in set four but just like set three Rockhurst refused to yield and came back to even the set at 11 on a kill from Matio. Lewis responded with a 5-1 run to take the lead for good behind three kills from Hyland and two from Venema.

The Hawks got as close as 18-16 but the Flyers were able to close it out ending the match scoring seven of the final nine points. Hyland and Venema teamed up to end it blocking Emma Kriete for the final point.

Hyland finished with a match-high 20 kills to lead three Lewis players in double figures. Venema recorded a career-high 15 kills and Wilhelm finished with 10 kills. Becker dished out 51 assists and Katarzynski had 32 digs.

The Flyers outhit Rockhurst .222-to-.133 in the contest and finished with 15 blocks compared to seven for the Hawks.

Matio led Rockhurst with 15 kills while Woodman added 12 kills and Kriete finished with 11 kills. Prusha distributed 42 assists while Kali Arnold had a match-high 36 digs.