ROMEOVILLE, Ill. -- The No. 12 Lewis University men's volleyball team lost its first match of the season as the Flyers fell to No. 2 Long Beach State 3-1 at Neil Carey Arena Saturday (Jan. 18). 

HEAD COACH DAN FRIEND
"It was a great battle against one of the best teams in the country in front of a sold out crowd.  A big thanks to all the fans and proud of the guys representation!"
 
TEAM RECORDS
No. 2 Long Beach State 4-0 | No. 12 Lewis 4-1
                    
LEWIS LEADERS vs. Long Beach State
Kills:  Oguzhan Oguz (Bursa, Turkey/Ocean) (18), Max Roquet (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) (14)
Digs: Nico Paula (Tampa, Fla./Berkeley Preparatory School) (12)
Assists: Tyler Morgan (Dike, Iowa/Dike-New Hartford) (40)
Aces: Shawn Baggs Jr. (Gilbert, Ariz./Casteel HS) (1), Cole Sweitzer (Middleton, Wis./Middleton HS) (1), Oguz (1)
Blocks: Frederick Kreuger-Beer (3), Daniel Haber (Remsenburg, NY/Westhampton Beach) (2)

SET BREAKDOWN
SET 1: Lewis 25, Long Beach State 20
Lewis jumped out early and scored the first four points, including a kill from Roquet. Long Beach tried to get back in the set after making it 6-4 in favor of Lewis.

The Flyers made it 10-6 after a kill from Oguz. Long Beach rallied and scored three straight and made it a one-point game (10-9). 

Lewis got back on track after three straight points including a pair of kills from Roquet to make it 13-9. The Flyers led the rest of the way and won it after Kreuger-Beer recorded a kill. 
 
SET 2: Long Beach State 27, Lewis 25
Long Beach scored the set's first three points to make it 3-0. Lewis tried to get back in the set after a kill from Roquet made it 6-5 in favor of the Beach. 

Moments later, Oguz recorded a kill to make it 16-14 Long Beach then the Beach scored three straight to pull back ahead 20-15. Lewis was able to rally, score five straight and tie the set at 22-22 after a pair of kills from Oguz. 

Both teams traded a pair of points each including an ace from Baggs Jr. which made it 24-24. Long Beach was able to capture the set after recording back-to-back points to win it 27-25.

SET 3: Long Beach State 25, Lewis 15
Lewis jumped out to an early 3-2 lead after kills from Roquet and Oguz. Long Beach rallied and scored three straight to grab a 5-3 lead. 

Long Beach put together another rally and scored four straight to extend its lead out to 15-9 midway through the third set. The Flyers were able to get the next point before the Beach recorded four in a row to make it 19-10.

Cole Sweitzer (Middleton, Wis./Middleton HS) tried to get the Flyers back in the match after recording a kill and an ace made it 20-14 Long Beach. The Beach scored the next five out of six points to win it 25-15 and go up 2-1.

SET 4: Long Beach State 25, Lewis 23
Lewis led 7-6 early in the fourth set before Long Beach scored five straight to grab a 11-7 lead. Roquet tried to shift the momentum back over to the Flyers after picking up a pair a kills, making it 12-9. 

Josh Weyerhaeuser (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) picked up a block to make it 15-11 Long Beach before the Beach scored four more in a row extending it out to 19-11. The Flyers scored three in a row to try to get back in the set. 

The Flyers were able to cut it down to 22-21 in favor of Long Beach. The Beach scored the next pair of points to force match point then Lewis bounced back with a pair of points of their own.

Long Beach ended it with a kill and won the set 25-23 and the match 3-1.
 
UP NEXT
Lewis will be back in action Friday, January 24 as the Flyers host Mount Olive University for Sign Night starting at 7 p.m. CT. 
 
RAISING MONEY FOR CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
Lewis raised money for the United Way Wildfire Fund. There is still time to donate at: https://buy.stripe.com/8wM6s6c182zn08w000
 
UPCOMING EVENTS
Be sure to join us Saturday, February 8 as we induct our newest members of the Academy of Coaches at halftime of the women's basketball game against Lincoln.
 
FLYERS ANNUAL FUND
Support the Flyers by making a gift to the Flyers Athletics Fund at https://lewisflyers.com/202425AnnualFund