Lewis Athletics
Luke Rinne, Director of Athletic Communications
NEWARK, N.J. – The No. 7 Lewis’ men’s volleyball team swept New Jersey Institute of Technology for its ninth straight win on Monday in Newark, N.J. The Flyers improve to 16-4 on the season while the Highlanders drop to 4-12.
Lewis outhit NJIT .310-to-.180 recording 34 kills against only 12 errors in 71 chances. Ryan Coenen (Franklin, WI/Franklin)led the Flyers with 11 kills in the contest while Tyler Mitchem (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook HS)finished with eight and Julian Moses (Atlanta, GA/Atlanta International School)added six. Matt Yoshimoto (Ventura, CA/Adolfo Camarillo)finished with a match-high 30 assists and Michael Simmons (Aurora, IL/Waubonsie Valley)and Mitch Perinar (Channahon, IL/Minooka)each had eight digs.
Lewis trailed 11-9 in the opening set after an attack error but responded with a 6-1 run to grab a 15-12 lead on a service ace from Jacob Kerschner (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin). The Highlanders answered with back-to-back points to trim the lead to one but the Flyers were able to pull away thanks to a 6-2 to build its largest lead of the set at 21-16 on a double block by Yoshimo and Nick Vander Zanden (Tinley Park, IL/Andrew).
NJIT didn’t get closer than four points the rest of the set as Lewis won 25-19. Coenen, Mitchem and Moses combined for 10 of the 12 kills in the frame.
The Flyers trailed by five points early in set two but responded with a 9-4 run to even the set at 15. They then took control with a 7-3 run to build a 22-18 lead on an attack error by Piotr Namiotko. The Highlanders wouldn’t go away though scoring five of the next seven points to cut the Lewis lead to 24-23 on a triple block by Namiotko, Luca Berger and Jens Feldthus. Mitchem closed the set out with his fifth kill of the frame to give the Flyers the 25-23 victory.
Lewis used a 6-2 run to take control in set three as it led by as many as seven in the stanza. NJIT didn’t get closer than three points the rest of the match as the Flyers coasted to the 25-18 victory.
Lewis returns home on Friday night for their first home match in nearly a month to take on No. 11 Loyola at 7 p.m. at Neil Carey Arena. Friday night’s match is the annual Green Out match and is also Alumni Weekend.