April 6, 2012

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Led by freshman Geoff Powell’s (Claremont, Calif./Claremont) career-high 19 kills,  No. 9 Lewis men’s volleyball’s 3-1 (28-30, 25-20, 25-20, 25-20) defeated Ball State on Friday (April 6) evening at Neil Carey Arena. The win, coupled with a win at Ball State in February, gives Lewis their first regular season sweep of Ball State since 2004.
 
The Flyers won the match in four sets, but missed a chance to win it in three after squandering a 24-21 lead in the first. The frame had 16 ties and four lead changes.
 
Lewis evened the match by winning the second set. The key stretch was a 5-0 run which gave Lewis a 22-14 advantage. Freshman Eric Butch (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South) was subbed in to serve during the run. He had an ace and assisted on a kill during the stretch.
 
“Eric went on a couple runs,” Lewis head coach Dan Friend said. “He put some pressure on those guys and made it tough for them to set their middles.”
 
Ball State came out of the intermission break with some fire and took a 10-5 lead in the third set. Back came the Flyers with a 6-0 push. Senior Aaron Flick (North Ridgeville, Ohio/St. Edward) and sophomore BJ Boldog (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) combined for blocks on back-to-back points in the run. The push helped Lewis win the third set and eventually finish off the Cardinals by winning the fourth.
 
Powell finished with a 19-8-43 line for a .256 hitting percentage. Powell, Boldog and junior Jay Petty (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) each recorded seven digs for the Flyers. Boldog recorded 52 assists, a season-high for a four set match. Petty hit .300 with 17 kills. Flick added eight kills and six block assists.
 
“Our pins (Powell and Petty) did a great job of scoring points at key times,” Friend said.
 
Ball State falls to 11-9 (4-6 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association). Lewis improves to 21-6 (7-3 MIVA). The 21 wins match Friend’s high since taking over the Flyers in 2005.
 
Lewis is next in action on Friday with a MIVA match against Grand Canyon. First serve is set for 7 p.m.