RIVER FOREST, Ill. – Dominican University went on a quick run late in the fourth set, just enough to gain some separation and eventually close out Lakeland University in four sets Friday night in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match.
The Muskies won the first set but couldn't match that success again and fell to the Stars 20-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-23. Dominican avenged a five-set home loss to Lakeland last season and moved a game clear in the NACC standings, improving to 3-2 in conference while the Muskies dropped to 2-3 in league play.
Lakeland came up just short of extending the match to a deciding set. The Muskies rallied from a 22-18 deficit late to tie it back up at 22-22, but the Stars scored the next two points and finally closed it out with the second match point at 24-24, taking advantage of a Lakeland attack error to win it.
On a night where both teams had big individual performances hitting, Dominican did the Muskies one better with a trio of players with at least 10 kills. Kendyl Todd was dominant with 17 kills and just three errors in 30 attempts, Elin Ream finished with 12 kills and Alex Kisten added 10 kills with just one error.
Shannon Bishop (
So.-River Grove, Ill.) led Lakeland with 13 kills and
Brittini Scoles (
Sr.-Kewaskum, Wis.) added 11. Other than
Eliana Arbetman (
Jr.-Oak Park, Ill.) finishing with five kills in two sets off the bench, though, no other Muskie had more than four kills.
Lakeland took the first set by closing strong, scoring nine of the final 13 points after trailing 17-16. The Muskies took advantage of 11 Dominican errors in that first set before the hosts controlled the second and third sets to take the lead in the match.
Allison Errthum (
Sr.-Joliet, Ill.) finished with 22 digs while
Shelby Welsh (
Jr.-Ogallala, Neb.) also added 12 digs.
Neenah Primas (
Fr.-Oostburg, Wis.) finished with 23 assists and
Emma Bruder (
Jr.-Frankfort, Ill.) added three service aces.
Lakeland is back in action Saturday when it faces Concordia University Chicago in River Forest at noon.
