The Lakeland College women's volleyball team came up so close again against one of the top teams in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, but it wasn't enough in a five-set loss to Concordia University Wisconsin Saturday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Falcons rallied to defeat the Muskies 12-25, 26-24, 21-25, 25-20, 17-15 in a showdown between one team at the top of the NACC standings and another aspiring to get there. Concordia improved to 5-0 in conference play (12-7 overall) while Lakeland dropped to 3-2 in league play and 9-13 overall.

The Muskies dominated the first set, won the third set to take a 2-1 lead in the match and, most importantly, held four match points in the deciding fifth set. Lakeland led 14-11 in the fifth before surrendering three straight points, and then allowed three more points after getting within a point of wrapping it up when at 15-14.

The Muskies received a number of outstanding individual performances in the loss. Allison Errthum (So.-Joliet, Ill.) hammered home a career-high 19 kills, carrying the attack at times while also finishing with 20 digs. Caleigh Galvan (Sr.-New Lenox, Ill.) tallied 38 digs and Hannah Scherer (Fr.-Chillicothe, Ill.) warmed up and finished with 12 kills.

Brooke Aiazzi (Sr.-Yerington, Nev.) added 17 digs while Taylor Levitt (Jr.-Schaumburg, Ill.) finished with 46 assists.

The Muskies face another tough conference contest on Tuesday when they travel to Madison to face Edgewood College at 7 p.m.