Lewis Men’s Volleyball Falls To Ball State in MIVA Semifinals

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Lewis University men’s volleyball team came up short in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tournament Semifinals against the Ball State Cardinals for the second straight year. The Flyers season came to an end after a straight sets loss at No. 1 seed Ball State on Wednesday evening inside Worthen Arena.

TEAM RECORDS

(RV) Lewis (17-13) | No. 10 Ball State (20-8)

 

LEWIS LEADERS

Kills: Christian Prayer (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) (8), Cole Brillhart (York, Pa./Northeastern) (7) and Michael Sack (Oak Lawn, Ill./St. Laurence) (7)

Digs: Tyler Morgan (Dike, Iowa/New Hartford) (5), Brillhart (4) and Prayer (4)

Assists: Morgan (30)

Aces: Prayer (1)

Blocks: Antonio Elias Rodriguez (Naranjito, Puerto Rico/Colegio Sagrada Familia) (3), Prayer (3)

 

SET BREAKDOWN

FIRST SET: Ball State 25, Lewis 21

• The first set featured both teams trading scoring runs, finding themselves tied at six and tied again at 12.
• Half way through the first set after a 3-0 run gave Ball State a 15-12 lead, four separate players for Lewis recorded a kill, including Prayer with three himself.
• Ball State led by as many as five at 19-14, but the Flyers were able to cut that lead to two after an ace by Prayer.
• The Cardinals were able to close the first set with a kill by Tinaishe Ndavazocheva.
• Lewis posted a game-low .097 hitting percentage in the opening set and spiked 11 kills.

SECOND SET: Ball State 25, Lewis 21

• The Cardinals jumped out to a quick 6-3 lead after back-to-back attack errors by the Flyers.
• Lewis climbed its way back into a tie game at 10 after an error by Ball State and a kill by Sack and Prayer.
• Ball State answered back with a 4-0 run immediately after that was able to hold off Lewis the remainder of the set.
• The Flyers would bring the score within three at 24-21 after another kill by Prayer but Ball State responded with a kill of their own to take a 2-0 set lead.

THIRD SET: Ball State 25, Lewis 18

• Lewis was able to take a 5-3 lead to begin the set after three-straight points with the help of a kill from Elias Rodriguez and Max Roquet (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston).
• Moments later the Cardinals would eventually take the lead for good at 13-12 after another kill from Ndavazocheva.
• Ball State would…