DENVER, Colo. – Lewis' women's volleyball team extended its season opening winning streak to six in a row with a pair of wins over ranked foes on Friday at the Colorado Premiere Challenge in Denver. The Flyers knocked off No. 13 Barry 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-17) in the opener and beat No. 12 Central Missouri 3-1 (25-18, 24-26, 25-22, 25-23) in the nightcap.

With their two wins in pool play on Friday, Lewis (6-0) advances to the Gold Bracket at the Premiere Challenge where it'll face No. 15 Southwest Minnesota State in the semifinals at 12:30 p.m. (CDT).

Colleen Wilhelm (Euclid, Ohio/Lake Catholic) led three Flyers in double figures with 16 kills in the opener against the Buccaneers (4-2). Megan Schlecte and Alexandra Preuss (Elmhurst, Ill./York) added 14 and 10 kills respectively. Mikah Freppon (Cold Spring, Ky./Newport Central Catholic) distributed 44 assists and Jamie Poppen (Ballwin, Mo./Parkway West) had a match-high 23 digs.

Lewis hit .268 in the contest and held Barry's offense to a .188 hitting percentage.

In the nightcap against the Jennies (4-2) the Flyers took the opening set 25-18 and had a chance to win set two but the Jens came back to win 26-24 to even the match at a set apiece. Lewis led by as many as six in the third set but UCM used an 8-3 run to cut the Flyer lead to 23-22. Lewis was able to close out the set as a Jennie service error gave the Flyers a set point and then Freppon served the set out with an ace.

Lewis was in control leading by six in the fourth set but the Jens wouldn't go quietly using a 10-4 run to even the set at 23. Caroline Stefanon (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) blocked Hannah Engelken to give the Flyers match point at 24-23 and Preuss ended it on the next point with a kill.

Lewis' defense held UCM to .057 hitting percentage while recording 15 blocks in the contest. Stefanon had eight total blocks while Ava Venema (Westmont, Ill./Timothy Christian) added six total blocks. Venema led the offensive attack with 14 kills while Preuss added 12 and Wilhelm finished with 15. Freppon handed out 37 assists while Poppen had 19 digs.