RIVER FOREST, Ill. – With its backs to the wall on multiple occasions in the match, the Lakeland University women's volleyball team answered every challenge and defeated Dominican (Ill.) University in five sets Wednesday evening on the road at the Igini Sports Forum.

The Muskies came back for an 18-25, 25-22, 25-27, 25-22, 15-12 win to get back into the race at the top of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. Lakeland knocked the Stars from the ranks of undefeated teams in the conference and defeated Dominican for the first time since 2009.

The Muskies (10-9 overall, 3-1 NACC) scored a big win for the program over a team that has been one of the standard bearers in the NACC. Dominican is the three-time defending NACC tournament champion and has won the regular season or tournament championship six times over the past six seasons.

The Muskies were on the brink of losing the match after falling in a tough third set in which they had set point, but that was only a speed bump compared to the obstacle they faced in the fifth set. Dominican (5-15 overall, 3-1 NACC) seemed to be in control after scoring four straight points to take an 8-4 lead, and the Stars were still ahead by four at 10-6, just five points from victory.

In a stunning turn of events, Lakeland scored six straight points and eight of the next nine. Taylor Levitt (Sr.-Schaumburg, Ill.) served out six straight points and had a service ace, and the Muskies also were the recipients of four attack errors by Dominican. Brianna Johnson (So.-Altoona, Wis.) also added an ace to make it 14-11, and the match ended two points later with a kill by Allison Errthum (Jr.-Joliet, Ill.) to clinch it.

It was hardly the first time in the match that the Muskies battled back from a deficit. Lakeland might've been swept away in three sets if it hadn't rallied from down 18-14 in the second set before coming back. Allison Byrne (Fr.-Luxemburg, Wis.) came off the bench and served out six straight points, including a service ace, as the visitors turned a late 20-18 deficit into a 24-20 lead.

Courtney Naser (Jr.-Altoona, Wis.) was clutch on the attack, with 14 kills and just two errors in 35 attempts. Brittini Scoles (Jr.-Kewaskum, Wis.) added 13 kills, while Levitt (three) and Johnson (two) also combined for five service aces.

Levitt also led the defense with 18 digs, one of five players in double figures in digs. Errthum and Madison Schweitzer (Fr.-Thornton, Ill.) both added 13 digs each, and Schweitzer dished out 46 assists from her setter spot.

Rosalyn Wise led Dominican with 15 kills and added 12 digs. Audrey Wyse posted a match-high 28 digs.

The Muskies face another important NACC match on Saturday when they travel to face Concordia University Wisconsin at 2 p.m.