Lewis Sweeps Grand Canyon On Senior Night

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis swept Grand Canyon 30-15, 30-21, 30-24 on Saturday evening at Neil Carey Arena using a starting lineup with all five seniors. The win gives Lewis the No. 3 seed in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tournament thanks to a tie-breaker over Ball State. The Flyers will host Quincy in a First Round match on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Senior Mike Iandolo (Orlando, Fla./Long Beach State) had 20 assists, four block assists, three aces and three kills. Senior Craig Boller (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) totaled eight kills and nine blocks (one solo). Senior Nathan Klaas (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) added 12 digs and seven kills. Senior Andy Frontz (El Cajon, Calif./Grossmont CC) finished with 14 assists, seven kills and five digs. Senior libero Rikki Garma (Lihue, Hawaii/Ost) totaled four digs.

“It was great to see those guys play from point one to 30 and put away a team in three as a group,” head coach Dan Friend said. “They played with a lot of energy and had a lot of fun, which can be a pretty key ingredient in this game at times.”

Junior Brian Muesenfechter (St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers) totaled nine kills, six block assists and three digs.

Lewis controlled the match, with the lead changing hands on just four occasions. Lewis fell behind 4-1 in the second set, only to take control with an 8-1 run midway through the frame. The Flyers finished off the Antelopes in the third set by scoring consecutive points on nine occasions.

Grand Canyon falls to 14-25 (1-11 MIVA). Lewis improves to 18-9 (7-5 MIVA).