IPFW Clinches MIVA Tournament Berth, Falls at No. 13 Lewis

Saturday, April 9

Romeoville, Ill.

8 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

10-18, 3-13MIVA

Lewis

17-12, 10-6MIVA

IPFW

LEWIS

IPFW Clinches MIVA Tournament Berth, Falls at No. 13 Lewis

4/9/2016 10:36:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The IPFW men's volleyball team clinched its 32nd-consecutive MIVA (Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) Tournament berth, despite falling at No. 13 Lewis, 18-22, 22-25, 19-25. Kyle Fitzgerald led the 'Dons, hitting .417 (5-0-12), adding four total blocks. Michael Keegan earned a team-high eight digs, followed by Tony Price and Luis Bertran, each with five.

The Mastodons fell behind early, trailing 6-3 to open the match. The Blue and White would take three-straight points, highlighted by a triple block from Keegan, Alex Harthaller, and David Frazee, to knot the opening set at six. A 5-1 run from the Flyers would help briefly break the set open for Lewis before IPFW fought back to get within three points at 16-13. However, Lewis would earn the next four points and eventually take the opening set 25-18. Both Keegan and Frazee earned two block assists in the opening set.

Once again, the Flyers would take an early lead to open the set, going up 7-3 over the 'Dons. IPFW battled back with three-straight points to start a 7-1 run, giving the Blue and White a one point lead at 10-9. Both teams would trade points until getting knotted at 13. IPFW would hang close to Lewis as the Flyers went up 17-16 late in the set, but Lewis would pull away with a 6-2 run. The Mastodons would fend off three set points at the end of the set, but the Flyers eventually took the second set, 25-22. Andrew Sellan earned five kills in the second set, while Fitzgerald had three total blocks.

The 'Dons held tight early in the third set, being tied with Lewis at four. However, the Flyers took the next five points and remained in control until the Mastodons fought back to cut the deficit to 15-12. Lewis would then take another run, earning the next five points to break the set open. The Blue and White would make one last run late in the set, earning four-straight points to make it 23-19, but Lewis would finish the set 25-19 to complete the sweep.

IPFW will travel to No. 2 Ohio State as the Mastodons face the top-seeded Buckeyes in the opening round of the MIVA Tournament on Sunday, April 17 at 7 p.m.

~ Feel the Rumble ~