LORETTO, PA--No. 4 Lewis rallied back, down 2-0, to win a five-set thriller from NJIT despite Alvaro Gimeno's season-best 20 kills on day two at the Red Flash Invitational hosted by Saint Francis U at DeGol Arena in men's volleyball non-conference action.

In the fifth and deciding set, Lewis went up 4-1 and extended its lead to 6-3.  A 3-1 run by the Highlanders closed the Flyers gap to one, 7-6, on a kill by Julian Meissner.  NJIT tied the set at 9-9 after three straight points by the Highlanders.  Lewis closed out the match with a 6-2 run for a 15-12 victory in the final set for a come-from-behind win, 3-2.

NJIT (0-2) won the first sets, 25-23 and 25-15 but Lewis (4-0) took the third frame, 25-19, fought off a set-point in the fourth set with a 27-25 win and earned the victory with a 15-12 win in the fifth and deciding set.

Lewis had three players reach double-digits in the kills column, paced by a match-best 23 kills from Ryan Coenen.  Tyler Mitchem recorded 12 kills followed by TJ Murray with 10 and a match-best 11 total blocks (one solo, 10 assists).

Setter Kevin Kauling piled up a match-high 46 assists and Landon Krause shared match-high honors with NJIT's Joe Kennedy with 10 digs.

In addition to Gimeno's 20 kills, the senior opposite combined for a .256 hitting percentage, including six digs, three total blocks (one solo, two assists) and two service aces.  Sophomore Julian Meissner registered 16 kills and six digs, combining for a .289 hitting percentage.

Freshman setter Griffin Fieseler recorded a team-best 33 assists followed by senior Zachary Hresko with 12 assists and three digs.  

In front of the net, Martin de Chavarria led the Highlanders with six total blocks (four solo; two assists) followed by five from Luca Berger (two solo, three assists).

NJIT got off to a quick 2-0 start in the first set and then went ahead 6-3 after a pair of kills by Alvaro Gimeno.  The Highlanders used a 4-1 spurt for a four-point lead, 14-10, after three straight Lewis errors, resulting in a timeout.  Lewis answered with a 6-1 run to take its first lead of the set, 16-15, as seventh-year head coach Danny Goncalves called for a timeout.  The set saw four more ties in the frame, its final at 21-all, as the Highlanders scored three straight points for a 24-21 advantage.  Lewis held off NJIT for two points but a Flyers error secured the 25-23 win for NJIT.

Both teams traded points early in the second set as the Highlanders scored seven consecutive points midway through the frame, extending its lead to 15-8, resulting in a Flyers timeout.  The Highlanders closed out the set on a 5-2 spurt and cruised to a 25-15 victory to go up 2-0.  NJIT combined for a .435 hitting percentage.

Lewis bounced back in the third set, earning a 25-19 win behind a .300 hitting percentage.  The Flyers took an early 7-4 lead and pushed ahead its advantage to 13-9.  NJIT rallied back late in the set, pulling within three of the Flyers, 22-19, on a kill by Gimeno but Lewis scored the final three points of the set for a 25-19 victory.

The Flyers continued its momentum into the fourth set, jumping ahead 4-1 and later 13-8 behind three straight points.  NJIT answered with a 9-2 run capped by a solo block from Martin de Chavarria for a 17-15 advantage.  Lewis finished off the frame with an 8-2 spurt to force a decisive fifth set, 27-25. 

NJIT will return to action next week on Thursday-Friday when the Highlanders welcome Sacred Heart in EIVA Conference action.  Both matches are scheduled for 6pm and will be streamed live on NJITHighlanders.com.