Oct. 9, 2004

Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill.--Playing their best volleyball of the year, Lewis' women knocked Southern Indiana from the ranks of the unbeaten in the Great Lakes Valley Conference with a 30-22, 28-30, 30-28, 30-20 victory over the Screaming Eagles.

"We played very well last night against SIUE but lost," said Lewis head coach Karen Lockyer. "Today I told the team, `we have no pressure on us. We need to come out and show this team that you can beat them and that you want to beat them.'"

The message was received loud and clear from an inspired Flyer team that very easily could have earned a sweep. Southern Indiana came into the match 13-4 overall and 7-0 in the league and had beaten Lewis in four earlier this year.

The Flyers made runs at critical points in each of their winning games. After leading 16-13 in game 1, Lewis rattled off four straight points to extend its lead to 20-13. The Flyers would eventually lead by as many as 10 points at 26-16 before coasting into the win.

Game 3 saw the score tied at 25-all before sophomore Theresa Nugent recorded a back-row kill that stopped a USI run. The Flyers would then stretch their lead to 29-26 before the Screaming Eagles closed to 29-28. Lewis' Andrea Morrone ended the game with an overpass cover dig that shattered USI's hopes for a comeback.

USI built a 10-6 lead early in game 4, but Lewis responded and eventually claimed a 15-13 lead. The Flyers never looked back after taking the lead, and USI was plagued by mistakes down the stretch.

Nugent paced the Flyer attack with 18 kills, 15 digs and four blocks. She punctuated her play with a solo block on match point.

In addition, Rory Harrison (16 kills) and Sarah McKinney (16 kills, 12 digs) helped aid the Flyer cause. Morrone, the team's setter, handed out 53 assists and had a match-high 22 digs.

Lewis held statistical edges in hitting percentage (.247-147), digs (85-75) and kills (72-57).

"This was the best weekend of play we've had all year," said Lockyer. "This was a nice win for us and one that I hope we'll build on to carry us into the conference tournament."