FOND DU LAC – The Lakeland University women's volleyball team left no doubt about its Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament fate, defeating Marian University in three sets Tuesday night at Sadoff Gymnasium.

Efficient on the attack, putting up a wall at the net and pulling away late in each set, the Muskies swept the Sabres 25-17, 25-13, 25-15 to wrap up the fifth seed in the NACC's six-team tourney. Lakeland will travel to face No. 4 seed Dominican University next Tuesday at 7 p.m. in River Forest, Ill., in a quarterfinal matchup.

The Muskies (13-17 overall, 7-4 NACC) will enter the postseason with considerable momentum built late in the year. Lakeland won its fourth straight NACC match and extended its overall current winning streak to four matches, the team's longest win streak of the season.
 
The Muskies dominated the Sabres statistically, starting with a .287 attack percentage with 42 kills and just 11 errors in 108 swings. Brittini Scoles (Sr.-Kewaskum, Wis.) finished with 12 kills in 18 attempts, Shannon Bishop (So.-River Grove, Ill.) notched nine kills, Shelby Welsh (Jr.-Ogallala, Neb.) added eight kills and Emilie Schartner (Jr.-Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) totaled seven kills without an error in 15 attempts.

Lakeland also finished with a season-high 12 blocks, a big part in holding Marian to a .032 hitting percentage. Megan Goeser (Fr.-Plymouth, Wis.) posted a season-best nine blocks (three solo, six assisted) and Bishop also tied her career high with six block assists.

The Muskies were challenged especially in the first and third sets. Marian (9-15 overall, 3-8 NACC) rebounded from an early 6-2 deficit to take a 12-10 lead in the first before the Muskies stepped on the gas. A 10-1 run quickly turned the set in their favor, and Welsh closed it out with a pair of kills.

The Sabres also hung tough in the third set and actually were first past the halfway point, scoring four straight points to take a 13-12 lead. Lakeland responded with eight straight points, though, including three kills by Scoles in that run, and the senior also added the final kill to wrap it up.

Taylor Bubolz (Fr.-Howards Grove, Wis.) and Neenah Primas (Fr.-Oostburg, Wis.) shared the setting duties again and finished with 18 assists each. Allison Errthum (Sr.-Joliet, Ill.) paced with 20 digs.
 
Jamie Schrauth led Marian with seven kills while Amber Baker added 25 assists.

The Muskies will get a tune-up for the conference tourney when they travel to Appleton on Saturday to face St. Norbert College and host Lawrence University, starting with the Green Knights at 1 p.m. followed by taking on the host Vikings at 3 p.m.