No. 14 Lewis Men’s Volleyball Takes Down McKendree on the Road

LEBANON, Ill. – The No. 14 Lewis University men’s volleyball team took down McKendree, 3-1, on the road Saturday (Feb. 2) to move to 2-0 in MIVA play.

TEAM RECORDS

No. 12 Lewis 7-3 (2-0 MIVA) | McKendree 2-4 (0-1 MIVA)

LEWIS LEADERS

Kills: Max Roquet (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) (18), Daniel Haber (Remsenburg, NY/Westhampton Beach) (13), Christian Prayer (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) (10)

Digs: Nico Paula (Tampa, Fla./Berkeley Preparatory School) (17), Roquet (12), Prayer (10)

Assists: Morgan (43)

Blocks: Tyler Simpson (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) (5), Haber (4)

Aces: Prayer (2)

SET BREAKDOWN

Set 1: Lewis 25, McKendree 18

After Lewis took the first point, McKendree took three in a row to grab an early lead. The Flyers took four of the next five, including a kill and block assist by Haber, to take a 5-4 advantage.

The lead continued to go back-and-forth briefly until two kills by Prayer amidst a 3-0 charge for Lewis gave the Flyers a 9-7 advantage. The Bearcats could only reach a tie from that point on in the set, as a 4-1 run for Lewis with kills from Roquet, Haber and Prayer later made it 17-14 Flyers.

McKendree got back within two points, at 20-18, before Lewis took the final five points in the set including a kill and ace from Roquet. The Flyers outhit the Bearcats, .355-.206, in the opening set.

Set 2: McKendree 25, Lewis 19

The receiving team scored the first nine points of set two, but McKendree then went on an 8-0 charge to get out to a 12-4 lead. Later in the set, a 3-0 push by the Bearcats made it 22-12 as McKendree was in control of the set.

Lewis pushed back, taking six of the next seven points with five kills, but it was too little, too late as McKendree secured a kill for the set win. The Bearcats had a 3-0 advantage in service aces, helping take the set.

Set 3: Lewis 25, McKendree 21

McKendree grabbed another early lead, with a 3-0 charge making it 5-2 Bearcats. Play went back-and-forth from there until McKendree led, 12-8.

Then, the Flyers charged into the lead with a 6-0 burst, and kept on pushing. After the Bearcats stopped the run, Lewis held a sustained advantage with a 7-2 scoring run to put the Flyer lead at 21-15.

After Lewis reached set point at 24-17, McKendree had one last run to try to get back in it, but fell short as Roquet got the kill to give the Flyers the 25-21 set win. Lewis’ defense impressed in the third set, holding the Bearcats to a .040 attack percentage.

Set 4:…