Sept. 6, 2008

Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - No. 25 Lewis University finished the 2008 Flyer Festival with a perfect 4-0 record after a 3-1 (25-21, 18-25, 25-23, 25-18) victory over Western New Mexico on Saturday evening.

After splitting the first two sets Lewis took what looked like a commanding 18-8 advantage in set three. But the Mustangs inched their way back to tie it at 22. With the momentum in the Mustangs' corner sophomore Rachel Ruedi and junior Kim Richards combined on a block for the 23rd point. After Western New Mexico tied it at 23, a kill by junior Stephanie Sagat gave the Flyers' set point.

While it may take 75 points to win a match, sometimes momentum swings on just one single point. After a Western New Mexico timeout, Richards found the exact corner of the court to deliver a set three victory with an ace. Set four was simply academic, with the Flyers jumping out to a 16-8 lead and never looking back.

Sagat had 12 kills, seven digs and two aces. Richards finished with five kills, five blocks (two solo) and two aces. Sophomore Danielle Mount reached double-digit kills with 10, while adding three digs and three block assists. Sophomore Lauren Seliga finished with 12 digs and nine kills, including several thundering kills in the fourth set. Senior Lauren Hatter had 15 digs and three aces.

Lewis was out-hit .218 to .201, but the Flyers held dominating edges in aces (11-1) and blocks (8-1).

Lewis improves to 5-3. The Flyers open the conference slate on Wednesday at Wisconsin-Parkside. Then on Friday and Saturday the Flyers play home matches against conference foes Bellarmine and Northern Kentucky.