Service Errors Prove Costly In No. 15 Lewis' Loss To No. 13 Ohio State

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - No. 15 Lewis out-hit (.292 to .270) and out-blocked (14.5 to 7) No. 13 Ohio State, but struggles from the service line spelled doom for the Flyers on Friday evening at Neil Carey Arena. Lewis dropped the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association match 3-1 (30-20, 30-24, 24-30, 30-28).

The Flyers committed 24 service errors to just four aces. Ohio State had 22 errors of their own but they countered with 11 aces. Lewis' struggles from the endline hampered the Flyers' attempts to put runs together.

Individually several Flyers found success. Freshman Ian Karbiener (Orlando, Fla./Olympia) hit .419 with 14 kills and five digs. Sophomore Matt Gallik (Evergreen Park, Ill./Brother Rice) hit .533 with nine kills and seven block assists. Senior Nathan Klaas (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) totaled a double-double of 11 kills and 11 digs. Defensively sophomore Aaron Flick (North Ridgeville, Ohio/St. Edward) added seven blocks (two solo).

"We had a freshman hit .419 (Karbiener) and a middle hit .533 (Gallik)," head coach Dan Friend said. "Combine that with our blocking and we had success at the net, but you can't have unforced errors like we had."

The opening set was defined by a 7-0 Ohio State run late in the frame. Grayson Overman had four aces during the stretch. Lewis led the second set 18-16 when a 6-1 Buckeyes push changed the momentum of the game.

Lewis trailed the third 13-12 when the Flyers tallied five consecutive points, four on blocks. Flick assisted on all four. The Flyers capped the set with back-to-back kills by junior Brian Muesenfechter (St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers).

Lewis led the fourth set 12-9 but couldn't hold on thanks to a 9-2 run by the Buckeyes. It looked like Ohio State was going to coast to a fourth set win, leading 29-23. However five straight points by Lewis, including a kill and an ace by Karbiener, gave Lewis hope at 29-28. The Flyers' last gasp was halted by a kill form Ohio State's Shawn Sangrey.

"We gave up some big chunks of points and couldn't get some for ourselves till that last push," Friend said.

Sangrey finished with a match-high 28 kills for Ohio State.

Ohio State improves to 8-4 (5-0 MIVA) while Lewis falls to 7-2 (2-1 MIVA).

The Flyers' scheduled match on Saturday against NJIT has been canceled due to winter storms on the East Coast preventing NJIT from traveling. The Flyers are off until Friday, Feb. 19 when they play at George Mason.