Lewis used a mix of power and finesse Friday night to frustrate Drury University and end the host Panthers’ hopes of winning the NCAA Midwest Regional Volleyball Tournament.
The fourth-seeded Flyers faced only one real blip in winning their semifinal match 3-1 before 1,176 at O’Reilly Family Event Center. They fell behind 5-0 and lost the third set 25-22, but not before a strong late rally put them ahead 21-20.
A block-kill by Bentley Mara and Taylor Forth propelled Drury ahead again to stay at 22-21.
Drury couldn’t carry over the momentum as Lewis surged ahead 14-5 in the final set, before winning 25-18.