Follow
D’Aaron McCraney went off the net for a walk-off ace in overtime.
McCraney’s serve with McKendree leading in the fourth-game overtime hit the top of the net and landed No. 12 Lewis’ side of the court to complete the 25-18, 26-24, 25-23, 30-28 victory Saturday.
The match-winning float serve ace was McCraney’s first ace in the road conference win. It also was the middle attacker’s seventh career ace since joining McKendree last season.
McKendree fought off two game-points from Lewis in the fourth-game overtime, including a kill from pin-hitter Nikos Xydakis to extend the game. Xydakis on the next two plays had a block and then another kill to set-up McCraney’s ace.
Xydakis finished with 13 kills on a team-best .550 attack percentage and one of three Bearcats with double-digit kills.
Outside attacker Sam Hoskin led all players with a career-high 23 kills and hit .362. In addition, outside attacker Kevin Schuele contributed 17 kills and delivered the game-winning kill in the second-game overtime.
McKendree opened the match committing zero attack errors and hitting .615 in the first game. The Bearcats out-hit Lewis for the match .383 to .336.
Lewis pin-hitters Max Roquet and Oguzhan Oguz each had a team-high 21 kills and hit more than .375.
The Flyers utilized multiple setters in the match.
Tyler Morgan started the match but was subbed out with Lewis trailing by four points midway through the third game. Diego Estrada inserted into the lineup initially as a server helped the Flyers rally and force a decisive fifth game.