ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University's ninth ranked men's volleyball team extended its home winning streak to nine, dating back to last season, with a 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 25-17, 25-13) win over New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) on Friday evening at Neil Carey Arena. The Flyers improve to 2-0 while the Highlanders drop to 0-1.

There were eight ties and three lead changes in the opening frame. It was tied at eight when Lewis went on a 6-2 run to grab a 14-10 advantage. NJIT fought back to within two points at 15-13 but wouldn't get any closer as the Flyers scored nine of the next 13 points to take its largest lead of the set at 24-17 after a triple block by Tyler Morgan (Dike, Iowa/New Hartford), Michael Sack (Oak Lawn, Ill./St. Laurence) and John Davis (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central). The Highlanders wouldn't go quietly scoring three straight points to trim the lead to four before Lewis sealed the stanza when Morgan and Sack teamed up to block Jens Feldthus.

The Flyers held a 10-9 lead in the second frame but were unable to pull away as NJIT used an 11-5 run to take a 20-15 lead after an ace from Feldthus. Lewis got as close as four but wouldn't get any closer as the Highlanders closed the frame scoring three of the last five points to take the set 25-18 and even the match at a set apiece.

The Flyers used a 6-2 run early in the swing set to break a 4-4 tie and wouldn't look back as it led by as many as eight in the frame. NJIT tried to make a late rally closing to within three but Lewis finished the set strong scoring seven of the final nine points to win 25-17 to retake the lead in the match.

The final set was all Flyers as they hit a .600 in the frame while racing out to an early lead it wouldn't relinquish. The lead grew to as large as 13 points at 18-5 after an attack error by Martin De Chavarria. The Highlanders cut the margin to 10 but a service error from Julian Meissner set up match point for Lewis and then Meissner hit an attack error to seal the victory for the Flyers.

Lewis hit .398 in the contest recording 49 kills against 12 errors in 93 swings. Tyler Mitchem (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook HS) led three Flyers in double figures with 14 kills, six in the fourth set, while Davis added 11 and Cole Brillhart (York, Pa./Northeastern) finished with 10. Kevin Kauling (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) and Morgan combined for 42 assists and Morgan had a match-high eight digs. Sack had a match-high six blocks while Morgan added five blocks.

NJIT finished the contest with an attack percentage of .232 with 47 kills against 21 errors in 112 chances. Meissner finished with a match-high 15 kills while Feldthus added 11 kills. Griffin Fieseler had a match-high 28 assists and Meissner had a team-high seven digs. De Chavarria finished with five blocks in the contest.

Lewis continues its five-match homestand on Saturday (Jan. 15) hosting Saint Francis (Pa.) at 6 p.m. at Neil Carey Arena.