The Lakeland College women's volleyball team found out that it can compete with one of the best teams in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, but also that it still has work to do after losing to Dominican (Ill.) University Friday night in front of a boisterous crowd at the Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies were swept in three sets 25-22, 25-23, 25-21, but the 3-0 final match score doesn't begin to tell the story of the match. Lakeland had golden opportunities to win the first two sets, but the Stars showed the mettle that has allowed them to now win 21 consecutive regular season matches in conference play.

The Muskies (8-12 overall, 2-1 NACC) had big leads in each of the first two sets, including a 17-9 lead late in the first set plus a 17-13 lead late in the second set. Dominican (14-6 overall, 3-0 NACC) rallied in both sets and then again pulled away in a close third set to wrap up the match.

Neither team was at its best offensively, with Lakeland hitting just .051 (29 kills, 22 errors) and Dominican finishing at .165 with 39 kills and 18 errors, plus eight service errors. Both teams were excellent on defense, though, leading to a number of long rallies.

Kathy Flanagan (Jr.-Midlothian, Ill.) led the Muskies' attack with eight kills, while Brittini Scoles (So.-West Bend, Wis.) added seven kills and LeShay Jones (Sr.-Pontiac, Mich.) and Emilie Schartner (Fr.-Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) tallied six each. Taylor Levitt (Jr.-Schaumburg, Ill.) posted 24 assists and a match-high three service aces, while Caleigh Galvan (Sr.-New Lenox, Ill.) added 22 digs.

Tessa Griparis totaled 11 kills and Kendyl Todd added 10 kills for the Stars, while setter Christina Wilson recorded 37 assists plus a team-high 16 digs. Dominican also finished with seven team blocks, with six players recording at least one block assist.

The Muskies are back in action Saturday morning when they travel to face Alverno College at 11 a.m. in Milwaukee.