COLUMBUS, OHIO – The 10th ranked Lewis Flyer men's volleyball team dropped its second straight match falling to ninth ranked Ohio State in straight sets on Saturday evening in Columbus, Ohio. The Flyers (16-10, 7-5 MIVA) struggled to get their offense going hitting just .260 in the match and had 30 kills.
The Buckeyes (19-4, 7-5 MIVA) opened the match on a 5-1 run and never trailed in taking the opening set 25-18. Lewis closed the deficit to three on a couple of occasions but were unable to get any closer. Ohio State hit .444 in the opening set while holding the Flyers to a .217 attack percentage.
Ryan Coenen (Franklin, WI/Franklin) led Lewis with five kills in the frame.
The second stanza saw eight ties and two lead changes before the Buckeyes took control with a 10-2 run to build its largest lead of the set at 19-11 after a service ace from Jake Hanes. The Flyers got as close as six late in the set but were unable to get any closer as Nicolas Szerszen ended the set with his eighth kill of the match.
Mitch Perinar (Channahon, IL/Minooka) led Lewis with five kills in the frame.
The final set was tied at 14 midway through when Ohio State began to make its run scoring seven of the next nine points to build a five-point advantage after a double block by Hanes and Blake Leeson.
TJ Murray (Barrington, IL/Barrington) brought the Flyers back to within 21-18 with back-to-back kills but the Buckeyes ended the match on a 4-1 run to complete the sweep 25-19. Murray had four kills in the stanza for Lewis.
Coenen was the lone Flyer to finish in double figures with 11 kills while Perinar and Murray added six kills apiece.
Matt Yoshimoto (Ventura, CA/Adolfo Camarillo) dished out 23 assists while
Michael Simmons (Aurora, IL/Waubonsie Valley) added 10 digs.
Ohio State had three players finish in double figures in kills led by Maxime Hervoir with 13 while Szerszen and Hanes had 12 kills each. Sanil Thomas handed out 37 assists and added eight digs.
Lewis continues its four-match road trip next Thursday heading to Quincy, Ill., to take on the Quincy Hawks at 7 p.m.
