BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Lewis University women's volleyball team saw its season come to an end in the NCAA DII Tournament Second Round as the Flyers fell to the No. 1 seed and the top team in the country Ferris State Friday (Dec. 6).

TEAM RECORDS
#1 (1) Ferris State 33-0 | (RV) (4) Lewis 23-11
                    
LEWIS LEADERS vs. Ferris State
Kills:  Bella Ray (Plainfield, Ill./Joliet Catholic) (8), Natalie Stefanski (Plainfield, Ill./Joliet West) (7), Hannah Alvey (Mapleton, Ill./Illinois Central College) (6)
Digs:  Ally Hickey (Granger, Ind./Penn) (19)
Assists: Rachel Kaczorowski (Carpentersville, Ill./Harry D. Jacobs) (14)
Aces: Hannah Alvey (Mapleton, Ill./Illinois Central College) (1), Kaczorowski (1), Stefanski (1)
Blocks:  Lauren Buxton (Springfield, Ill./Pleasant Plains) (2), Januski (2)

SET BREAKDOWN vs. Ferris State 
Set 1: Ferris State 25, Lewis 21
Both teams traded four points a piece to start the opening set. Stefanski gave Lewis a 6-4 advantage with an ace.

Lewis led 9-8 then recorded three straight points which was started by a kill from Mallory Januski (Bourbonnais, Ill./Valparaiso). Moments later, the Flyers extended its lead out to 16-10 after kills from Kaczorowski and Alvey.

Ferris State stormed back with a 9-2 rally to regain the lead at 19-18. Both teams went back-and-forth before a Stefanski block made it 21-19.

The Bulldogs responded with six straight points to close out the opening set, which won it for FSU 25-21.

Set 2: Ferris State 25, Lewis 12
Ferris State jumped out on early 7-2 lead in the second. Stefanski tried to get Lewis back in the set after recording a kill to make it 7-3. 

The Bulldogs built on their lead with three consecutive points to make it 10-3. Ray looked to switch momentum over with a kill to make it 10-4 Ferris.

Ferris State never trailed in the set then eventually won it 25-12.
 
Set 3: Ferris State 25, Lewis 14
Ray and Stefanski started the third set with back-to-kills to make it quickly 2-0. Moments later, Ray made it 5-2 after picking up a kill.

Ferris State rallied and scored six straight points to give the Bulldogs a 8-5 lead in the third set. Lewis looked to climb back in the set after Alvey recorded a kill to cut it down to two (8-6). 

Moments later, Ferris State jumped out to a 20-9 advantage later in the set before the Flyers got back-to-back kills from Ray and Stefanski to make it 20-11. The Bulldogs were able to close out the match after winning the third set 25-14.

UP NEXT
Lewis concludes its 2024 season 23-11 and made its 18^th straight NCAA DII Tournament Appearance. 

POST MATCH INTERVIEW