March 16, 2005

Final Stats

DUBUQUE, Iowa--Senior Matt Mueller posted a career night and helped lift the Lewis University men's volleyball team to a come-from-behind victory on the road against Clarke College.

The Flyers, who have never lost a match to the Crusaders, fell behind 2 games to 1 before rallying in games 4 and 5 to claim the 30-22, 29-31, 28-30, 30-22 and 15-9 victory. The game 2 loss ended a 49-set winning streak against Clarke.

Opposite hitter Mueller helped carry the team as he pounded a career-high 23 kills while hitting .472. Sophomore Jared Dayton added 16 kills, six digs and a .462 hitting percentage, while senior Greg Pochopien tallied 15 kills, four blocks and a .455 hitting percentage. Junior J.J. Castellano registered a match-high 14 digs.

The Flyers out-hit Clarke .359-.274 and out-dug them 36-27. Lewis combined to hit just .232 in games 2 and 3, but connected at a .479 clip in the three games it won.

Erik Vogt, who had a team-high 15 kills and a match-high eight blocks, led Clarke. Jeff Simundic recorded 10 kills and three blocks, and Taylor Albright notched 14 kills and five digs.

The victory bumps the Flyers' record to 12-9 overall and 7-1 in the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, while Clarke falls to 3-15 overall and 0-13 MIVA.

No. 14 Lewis' win sets up a showdown with No. 12 Ohio State (14-5, 7-1 MIVA) for second place in the conference Saturday, March 19. Match time is 7 p.m.