MARCY, N.Y. – The Lakeland University saved its best for the end in its season-opening tourney, knocking off nationally ranked Stevenson (Md.) University to close out its weekend at the State University of New York (SUNY) Polytechnic Wildcat Invitational, which concluded Saturday.
The Muskies made their long trip to Upstate New York pay off in the form of a win over the team ranked fifth in the AVCA/NCAA Division III Top 15 Coaches Poll, sweeping Stevenson 25-19, 25-22, 25-21. Lakeland closed out the weekend with a 2-2 record that included a 0-2 start Friday but two wins Saturday, including a five-set victory over host school SUNY Poly.
Matt Stolz (
Sr.-Wauwatosa, Wis.) capped a big weekend with eight kills and a .533 hitting percentage against Stevenson. As a team the Muskies hit .357 with 28 kills and just eight errors in the match.
Tim Robbins (
Sr.-Wheaton, Ill.) also added six kills and seven blocks (six assisted), playing a big role in the team's 8.5 total blocks. Stevenson also committed 21 hitting errors in the loss.
Stolz also posted 21 kills,
Casey Bolda (
Sr.-Honolulu, Hawaii) added 12 and
Anthony Puccini (
Sr.-Downers Grove, Ill.) added seven kills as the Muskies held off host SUNY Poly 22-25, 26-24, 25-21, 23-25, 15-12. Stolz also finished with 13 digs and Bolda,
Ryan Frankel (
So.-Palatine, Ill.) and
Casey Takahashi (
Jr.-Kailua, Hawaii) also added added 11 digs in the win.
Lakeland opened the event Friday night with two more matches against ranked teams and lost both in three sets. The Muskies were defeated by No. 7 Nazareth (Pa.) College 25-17, 25-10, 25-21 in their opener, and then fell to Vassar (N.Y.) College 25-20, 25-19, 25-18 in their second match.
Stolz finished the weekend with 44 kills while Bolda posted 26 and Robbins added 21.
Addison Mertler (
So.-Boca Raton, Fla.) notched 62 assists, Bolda led the team with 24 digs, and Robbins finished with a sturdy 18 blocks (14 assisted).
The Muskies now get ready for their home opener on Wednesday when they welcome Cardinal Stritch University for a 7 p.m. match at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
