Kook Sets IPFW Hitting Record in 3-0 Loss at Lewis
Romeoville, IL - Senior middle blocker Oliver
Kook converted kills on 12 of 14 total attacks, posting a new
IPFW single-match record .857 overall hitting percentage, as the
'Dons fell to conference foe Lewis, 29-31, 24-30, 29-31.
Kook's record .857 hitting percentage breaks current IPFW assistant
coach Ryan
Perrotte's single-match record, set in 1999 against the Ohio
State Buckeyes. Perrotte hit 17 of 20 and, like Kook, did not make
an attack error in the match.
Unfortunately for the IPFW squad, the match began with an IPFW
service error and with the small lead in hand, the Flyers did not
let up. Lewis, who dropped out of the AVCA national rankings this
week for the first time of the 2010 season, jumped out to a 14-9
lead in the opening frame. Maintaining a steady three point lead
until deep into the set, cruised to a set point opportunity at
29-26.
After a kill by Kook and Flyer timeout, the Lewis squad posted
back-to-back attack errors to knot the set at 29 a piece. After
another whistle to calm the Mastodon momentum, Lewis fired a kill
and IPFW's last ditch effort found the net, as the attack error
closed a nail-biter first set 31-29 in favor of the Flyers.
Despite faltering late, the IPFW offense hit at an efficient .361
mark in the first set.
The two teams continued their neck-and-neck battle into the second
stanza, as Lewis didn't take their first two-point lead until the
score was to 12-10. With a 16-15 lead, the Flyers rattled off five
of the next seven points to take a commanding 21-17 advantage. From
there, the Lewis offense was in a groove, as a Chris Biscardi kill
closed a second-set Lewis victory, 30-24.
The third frame played out in a much different key. IPFW took an
early 8-5 lead, eventually growing the advantage to as many as four
21-17. Slowly chipping away, though, a persistent Lewis attack
eventually knotted the third stanza at 24. The Flyers captured
their first lead of the set on a Mastodon attack error to take a
26-25 lead.
Back-to-back Lewis attack errors swung the favor back to the 'Dons,
giving them a late 28-26 before the Flyers took three of the next
four points, again knotting the see-saw battle at 29-29. Lewis' Ian
Karbiener fired a laser kill to bring the set to match point and
IPFW's final attack fell short, as Lewis closed the third set
victory, 31-29.
IPFW's Darryl
Shank and Elon
Fyfield led the squad with 15 kills a piece, with Shank also
tallying a team-high seven digs. Dan
Mader posted 51 assists as the 'Dons posted a respectable .313
hitting percentage overall in the match.
The loss drops IPFW to 9-13 overall on the year and 2-7 in MIVA
play. Lewis moves to 16-7 overall and improves their conference
mark to 5-3.
IPFW will return to action Friday, as they host the ninth-ranked
Penn State Nittany Lions. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. from
the Hilliard Gates Sports Center in Fort Wayne.
