BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Lewis University women's volleyball advances to the NCAA DII Tournament Second Round after defeating Rockhurst 3-2 Thursday (December 5). The Flyers will now play No. 1 seed, the No. 1 team in the country and host Ferris State Friday.

TEAM RECORDS
(RV) #4 Lewis 23-10 | (RV) #5 Rockhurst 21-9
                    
LEWIS LEADERS vs. Rockhurst
Kills: Bella Ray (Plainfield, Ill./Joliet Catholic) (18), Hannah Alvey (Mapleton, Ill./Illinois Central College) (11)
Digs:  Ally Hickey (Granger, Ind./Penn) (20), Alvey (18), Natalie Stefanski (Plainfield, Ill./Joliet West) (13)
Assists: Lily King (Channahon, Ill.) (23), Rachel Kaczorowski (Carpentersville, Ill./Harry D. Jacobs) (21)
Aces: Stefanski (4), Hickey (3)
Blocks:  Bella Ray (Plainfield, Ill./Joliet Catholic) (7), Lauren Buxton (Springfield, Ill./Pleasant Plains) (6)

SET BREAKDOWN vs. Rockhurst
Set 1: Lewis 25, Rockhurst 18
Lewis jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after a kill from O'Neill. Rockhurst got back in the set after going on a 7-2 spurt to cut it down to two (9-7).

The Flyers bounced back with a 10-3 rally after a block from Buxton made it 19-10. Lewis forced set point after making it 24-14.

Rockhurst looked to rally late after scoring four straight points but Alvey was able to put an end to the set after recording a kill.

Set 2: Rockhurst 25, Lewis 17
Lewis jumped out to an early 3-2 lead after a kill from Alvey. Rockhurst scored three straight to gain a 5-3 advantage and never looked back in the set.

The closest the Flyers got was 12-9 after back-to-back points. Rockhurst went on a 7-2 run to put the Hawks ahead 19-11. 

Lewis tried to crawl back after back-to-back points after a kill from Gracie Schultz (Minonk, Ill./Fieldcrest High School) and Ray but Rockhurst had the upper hand. Rockhurst ended up winning the set 25-17.

Set 3: Lewis 25, Rockhurst 22
Rockhurst jumped out to an early 13-10 lead in the third set. Lewis responded with a 5-1 rally after three straight kills, two from Stefanski and one from Mallory Januski (Bourbonnais, Ill./Valparaiso).

The Hawks quickly regained the lead before both teams went back-and-forth in the set. Lewis jumped out to a 22-19 lead which helped them close out the set and take a 2-1 lead.

Set 4: Rockhurst 25, Lewis 22
Rockhurst jumped out to an early 12-8 lead in the fourth. Lewis responded with 10 straight unanswered points including four kills from Ray, a pair of service aces by Hickey and a couple of kills from
Buxton which made it 18-12.

The Hawks did not give in as RU went on a 7-1 run to tie it at 19-19 which gave them momentum the rest of the set. Both teams would each trade three points to make it 22-22.

Rockhurst closed out the fourth set scoring the last three points and won the set 25-22. The Hawks tied it at 2-2 and forced a fifth set.

Set 5: Lewis 15, Rockhurst 7
Rockhurst opened up the set with the first two points then Lewis responded with five straight including a pair of kills and a block from Ray to make it 5-2. The Hawks bounced back and scored three in a row to tie it at 5-5.

Both teams traded points then Ray recorded three kills out of the next six points to give Lewis a 12-6 advantage. Rockhurst went on to record the next point to make it 12-7.

Lewis closed out the set and the match after getting three straight points which all came from attack errors. The Flyers ended up winning the set 15-7 and the match 3-2.

UP NEXT
Lewis will take on No. 1 seed, the No. 1 team in the country and host Ferris State for the NCAA DII Tournament Second Round Friday, December 6 starting at 6 p.m. CT. 

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