No. 15 Lewis Rallies For 3-2 Road MIVA Win At IPFW

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Four Flyers finished with double-digit kills to help No. 15 Lewis rally from a 2-1 deficit and earn a 3-2 (30-26, 26-30, 29-31, 30-24, 15-13) road Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association victory on Friday evening at IPFW.

Freshman Ian Karbiener (Orlando, Fla./Olympia) continued his stellar play with a team-high 20 kills, seven digs and three aces. Senior Nathan Klaas (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) totaled a double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs. He also added six blocks (two solo). Sophomore middle hitters Aaron Flick (North Ridgeville, Ohio/St. Edward) and Matt Gallik (Evergreen Park, Ill./Brother Rice) each had 10 kills. Flick also added 11 blocks (three solo) to earn a double-double. Senior Mike Iandolo (Orlando, Fla./Long Beach State) totaled 61 assists and eight digs.

"I'll take a road conference win anyway I can get it," head coach Dan Friend said. "Aaron was good tonight and Mike brought some needed energy and leadership."

Lewis easily took the first set 30-26 before the Mastodons earned the second by the same four-point margin.

The pedestrian first two frames only set up a frantic third. IPFW scored the first five points of the third only to see Lewis tally the next seven. The teams twice traded points before IPFW scored five straight to make it a 12-9 Mastodons lead. Lewis responded by scoring four straight and 10 of the next 14 points to hold a 19-16 advantage. Klaas had three kills during the stretch. However three consecutive IPFW scores tied it at 19. It was back and forth the rest of the way. The Flyers led 26-25 on a kill by Klaas until the Mastodons stormed back to earn set point at 29-27. A Chris Biscardi (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) kill and an IPFW attack error knotted it up at 29 however the Mastodons finished off the set with two straight kills by Oliver Kook.

The fourth set was tight until an 8-1 stretch gave Lewis a 19-13 lead and all the separation they would need.

Flick had a kill and Karbierner followed with an ace to give Lewis a quick 2-0 lead in the fifth set and force IPFW to take their first timeout. IPFW made it count by countering with three points. Lewis scored the next two points and the Mastodons quickly called their second and final timeout with the score at 4-3. The Flyers scored five of the next six points out of the IPFW timeout to take a 9-4 lead and seemingly take control of the set. Flick had an ace during the stretch. A kill by Klaas earned Lewis match point at 14-11. Consecutive IPFW points gave the Mastodons life and forced Lewis to ask for time. Following the break Klaas wasted no time ending IPFW's hopes by delivering a kill.

"We started float serving their libero and it took them out of system," Friend said when asked what the difference was in the final two sets.

The last time Lewis rallied from 2-1 down to win a road match was in 2007 at Loyola.

IPFW's Darryl Shank totaled 35 kills on 73 swings. IPFW falls to 3-5 (0-3 MIVA).

Lewis improves to 7-1 (2-0 MIVA). The Flyers are off until next Friday when they host Ohio State at 7 p.m. The contest will be aired live on Lakeshore Public Television.