Rolla, Mo. – A large, but not impossible task awaited the Missouri S&T women's volleyball team going into this Friday's (Sept. 21) home matchup against nationally fourth-ranked Lewis though any hopes of a Miners' upset were dashed as the Flyers proceeded to register a 3-0 decision (25-17, 25-23, 25-13) in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) action at S&T's Gibson Arena.

Lewis, which is presently ranked fourth nationally in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Top 25 Poll, was able to withstand a noteworthy challenge by the Miners in the first two sets en route to winning its seventh consecutive match to date.  The Flyers also improved their season record to 12-2 overall and 6-0 in conference play while Missouri S&T is now 9-5 overall on the season with a 2-3 league mark.

Junior outside hitter Emilee Schlader (Lewiston, Idaho/Lewiston) was the only player on either team to notch double-figure kills with 14 total.  Junior middle hitter Caroline Dykes (Lawrence, Kan./Lawrence) provided six kills and hit for a .500 percentage (6-0-12) as the Miners finished the match hitting .075 in comparison to the Flyers' .247 percent.  In kills, Lewis racked up 37 in the contest while S&T generated a 29-kills team output.

On the defensive end, redshirt sophomore setter Sarah McGinnis (Middleton, Wis./Edgewood) was tops for the Miners with nine digs and provided a squad-most 16 assists.  Junior defensive specialist Corinne Stulce (St. Charles, Mo./Duchesne) and Emilee Schlader (Lewiston, Idaho/Lewiston) each compiled eight digs for S&T, which trailed 48-37 in that statistical category.  Elizabeth Hyland and Jamie Poppen both totaled a match-leading 14 digs to lead Lewis.  

At the net, each team accumulated six total blocks.  For S&T, Caroline Dykes (Lawrence, Kan./Lawrence) attained a match-most tying three block assists while Schlader and freshman middle hitter Kiernan O'Boyle (Kansas City, Mo./St. Teresa's Academy) garnered two apiece.
 
Set 1: LEWIS 25 – S&T 17
The Miners lead 4-3 to start the match before Lewis pulled into a five-all tie and never relinquished its lead.  The Flyers, who hit a .240 clip in the set to S&T's .061 percentage, were able to take an 18-10 lead and held no less than a seven-point advantage the rest of the way. 
 
Set 2: LEWIS 25 – S&T 23
Although both teams did hit the ball particularly well in set two as indicated by Lewis' .154 attack percentage to S&T's .139 hitting proficiency, the set did feature 15 tie scores and only a single lead change.  Three points was the largest lead held by either team, which the Miners managed to do so in the early going at 6-3.  Both teams battled one another virtually all of the way and S&T managed to get a 23-22 lead on a Emilee Schlader (Lewiston, Idaho/Lewiston) kill.  A Miner attack error gave a point back to Lewis to knot the set up at 23-apiece.  A S&T hitting miscue put the Flyers ahead 24-23 and the set point was won on a kill by Lewis' Alexandra Preuss. 

Set 3: LEWIS 25 – S&T 13
Lewis quickly seized upon its momentum in the third and final set of the match as the Flyers hit for a match set-best .379 percentage while limiting the Miners to .027 attack efficiency.  A 16-7 Lewis lead to begin the set spoiled almost any aspirations for an S&T comeback as the Miners drew within seven points at 18-11, but weren't able to get any closer.  A 7-3 run by the Flyers would follow to conclude both the set and match.   
 
Up Next: The Miners close out their weekend conference home stand this Saturday (Sept. 22) afternoon as the Indianapolis Greyhounds visit S&T's Gibson Arena.  Opening serve is scheduled for 3 p.m. (CT) in Rolla, Mo. 
 
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