Flyers clinch No. 2 seed in MIVA
Jason Beneventi
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Sports
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After suffering a five set loss to No. 15 Loyola on April 15, the No. 12 Lewis men's
volleyball team regained their winning mentality and secured a first round bye in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tournament with a victory over IPFW on Senior Day (30-26, 30-24, 30-24).
Following the team's seventh straight victory, the Lewis men's volleyball team went 2-2 in their recent stretch of conference matches.
A four-set loss to No. 11 Ohio State (30-24, 19-30, 30-26, 30-23) ruined an otherwise unblemished home mark.
Junior setter Mike Iandolo suffered an apparent lower body injury midway through the match, forcing him to the sidelines.
Senior Jordan Vidovic stepped in and jumpstarted the Flyer offense, setting up a few back-row attacks. He finished the match with 10 assists, but the team could not overcome its 15 service errors.
Senior Drew Pickering led the Flyers with 16 kills.
The Flyers got back to their winning ways on April 8, taking care of Quincy in short order. Lewis swept Quincy (30-18, 30-24, 30-25) in a road match that only lasted 1:15.
Sophomore Brian Muesenfechter and Pickering powered the Flyer attack, each earning nine kills.
All three Lewis setters contributed in the team's 20th win. Iandolo paced the Flyers with a team-high 20 assists. Vidovic notched seven assists and redshirt junior Andy Frontz followed with six assists.
Lewis clashed with local conference rival Loyola in their final meeting of the regular season, but to no avail. After disposing the Ramblers in four sets back on Feb. 17, Loyola earned their fourth MIVA victory.
The Flyers found themselves in an inopportune position after dropping the first two sets.
Refusing to go quietly, Lewis hit .344 in the third and fourth sets to even the match at two sets apiece.
Trailing 6-5 in the decisive fifth set, senior Billy Sahagian provided the Flyers with their first lead after two consecutive kills, each set by Iandolo. Junior Nathan Klaas capped the four-point swing with a kill that forced a Rambler timeout.
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