April 18, 2008

Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - In his final home match senior Jared Dayton recorded 13 kills and hit .440 to lead the No. 15 Flyers in a sweep of Mercyhurst 30-22, 30-22, 30-21 in a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association quarterfinal match on Friday evening.

The Flyers held a slim one-point lead at 8-7 in game one before going on a 6-2 lead to take a five point advantage. Mercyhurst advanced within three at 20-17, but could get no closer the rest of the way. Dayton kills accounted for the Flyers final two points of the game.

The Flyers never trailed in game two, jumping out to a 6-1 advantage. Junior Drew Pickering had two kills and sophomore Mike Iandolo had an ace during the run. In the match, Iandolo had two aces while Pickering and Dayton each had one.

The Flyers were just as hot to start game three, taking an early 9-2 lead. Senior David Kyner recorded Lewis' first point of game three in his final home match as a Flyer. The Lakers rallied to get within one at 22-21 but Lewis scored the final eight points of the game. During the run the Flyers used a 7-11 defense with freshman Matt Gallik, number seven and Iandolo, number 11, assisting together on three blocks during the final flourish.

Pickering finished with six kills. Iandolo had 31 assists, three digs and two kills. Junior Alex Vigansky and Sahagian each had three kills. Lewis out-blocked (6.5 to 3.0) and out-hit (.365 to -.011) the Lakers.

The victory is head coach Dan Friend's first postseason victory as the Flyers' head man.

Lewis improves to 21-9 while Mercyhurst ends their season at 5-20. The victory advances the Flyers to the semifinals of the MIVA Tournament on Thursday, April 24 at Ohio State University to play Ball State.