ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Lakeland University women's volleyball team followed up its biggest win of the season with one of its most efficient hitting performances in sweeping Rockford University on the road Saturday in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match.
The Muskies hit .343 for the match with 43 kills and just nine errors in 99 attacks in a 25-14, 25-13, 25-19 victory to move to the brink of an NACC Tournament berth. Lakeland improved to 6-4 in conference play and can wrap up a spot in the tourney with a win over Marian University in its final conference match Tuesday night in Fond du Lac at 7 p.m.
The Muskies took care of business just 17 hours after toppling Edgewood College Friday night in three sets, their first win over the Eagles since 2009. Lakeland never trailed in the first and third sets and went on big runs in all three sets of the win.
Shannon Bishop (
So.-River Grove, Ill.) finished with nine kills in 18 swings,
Megan Goeser (
Fr.-Plymouth, Wis.) posted eight kills and three blocks and
Shelby Welsh (
Jr.-Ogallala, Neb.) added seven kills, and the trio combined for just three errors between them.
Taylor Bubolz (
Fr.-Howards Grove, Wis.) and
Neenah Primas (
Fr.-Oostburg, Wis.) shared the setting duties and finished with 16 and 14 assists, respectively.
Allison Errthum (
Sr.-Joliet, Ill.) led the defense with 10 digs.
Lakeland finished with a pair of wins on the day after also stretching to five sets before defeating Maranatha Baptist University. The Muskies (12-17 overall) dominated the first two sets but then received a battle before finally prevailing 25-16, 25-15, 18-25, 17-25, 15-11.
Welsh finished with 15 kills,
Emilie Schartner (
Jr.-Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) added 11 kills and both Bishop and Goeser added 10 each as four players finished with double figures in kills. Schartner and Bishop also piled up seven and five blocks assists, respectively, as Lakeland finished with 10 team blocks.
Errthum also piled up 30 digs and was one of three with at least 20 digs, with
Emma Bruder (
Jr.-Frankfort, Ill.) also finishing with 23 digs and
Brianna Johnson (
Jr.-Altoona, Wis.) adding 20 digs. Primas also posted 29 assists.
Maranatha (14-14 overall) also finished with several outstanding individual performances, led by Alexis Bueltel with 24 kills and 18 digs. Karley Johnson and Kelsey Johnson also both added triple-doubles, with Karley Johnson posting 11 kills, 19 assists and 23 digs and Kelsey Johnson adding 13 kills, 25 assists and 21 digs.
