Klaas' Career-High 25 Kills Lifts No. 14 Lewis To 3-2 Win Over Rutgers-Newark

NEWARK, N.J. - Senior Nathan Klaas (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) delivered a career-best 25 kills in No. 14 Lewis' 3-2 (30-21, 30-22, 27-30, 26-30, 15-12) victory over Rutgers-Newark in a non-conference match on Friday evening.

Neither team held a two-point lead in the fifth set until the Flyers scored three straight with the game tied at seven. Klaas and sophomore Aaron Flick (North Ridgeville, Ohio/St. Edward) had a kill during the run.

"Last time we were up 2-0 and it went five we didn't finish it," head coach Dan Friend said referring to Lewis' loss in the conference tournament last year to Ball State. "So it was nice to see us put them away in the fifth. I think this team is learning how to play together."

The opening frame was just a two-point Lewis lead at 15-13 when the Flyers took control with a 5-1 run. Three different Flyers had kills in the stretch. The second set was tied at 15 when Lewis scored six consecutive points to grab hold of the set. Senior Andy Frontz (El Cajon, Calif./Grossmont CC) had an ace on the final point of the run following a Rutgers-Newark timeout.

Much like the first two sets, the score was back and forth to start the third set. However this time it was the home squad putting a 6-0 run together with the score tied at nine to pull away. The Scarlett Raiders followed with a fourth set victory to force the deciding fifth.

Klaas recorded 25 kills on 52 attempts for a .288 hitting percentage. Klaas also added seven block assists. Freshman Ian Karbiener Orlando, Fla./Olympia) hit .400 with 18 kills, seven digs and four blocks. Flick added 10 kills and five block assists. Senior Mike Iandolo (Orlando, Fla./Long Beach State) totaled 56 assists.

Defensively, sophomore Matt Gallik (Evergreen Park, Ill./Brother Rice) added seven block assists. Junior Brian Muesenfechter (St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers) added 13 digs.

Lewis out-hit Rutgers-Newark .233 to .194.

Lewis improves to 2-0. Rutgers-Newark falls to 0-1. Lewis rounds out the Golden Dome Classic on Saturday with a neutral site contest against New Jersey Institute of Technology at 3:30 p.m. CT.