STEVENS POINT – Lakeland University's final day at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Invitational was a short one, with a pair of losses to two especially strong teams to close out the two-day women's volleyball tourney.
The Muskies were defeated by Bethel (Minn.) University 25-13, 25-15, 25-14 Saturday morning and then also were swept by Millikin (Ill.) University 25-18, 25-10, 25-17. Millikin is ranked 12th in the latest AVCA/NCAA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll, while Bethel also is receiving votes just outside the top 25 in the poll.
Lakeland finished 0-4 in the invitational where it played a pair of ranked teams plus a third team lurking just outside the top 25 rankings. Six of the Muskies' seven losses in their 2-7 start to the season have come to teams receiving votes in the national poll.
Lakeland was done in by errors against Bethel, hitting -.028 with 23 kills but 26 attack errors.
Shelby Welsh (
Jr.-Ogallala, Neb.) posted an excellent line with nine kills and just two errors in 24 attacks-her best hitting performance as a Muskie-but only one other player had more than three kills, and only one other finished with a positive attack percentage.
Brianna Johnson (
Jr.-Altoona, Wis.) totaled 13 digs,
Emma Bruder (
Jr.-Frankfort, Ill.) also was in double figures with 10 digs and Welsh added nine digs.
Neenah Primas (
Fr.-Oostburg, Wis.) also added 14 assists.
The Muskies were overwhelmed by a sterling hitting performance by undefeated Millikin, which hit .453 with 40 kills and just six errors in 75 attempts. Erin Syversen finished with 15 kills and Alora Goodey added 13 kills, with the duo's 28 combined kills coming with just two errors in 41 attempts.
Shannon Bishop (
So.-River Grove, Ill.) and
Brittini Scoles (
Sr.-Kewaskum, Wis.) had five kills each to lead Lakeland's attack. Bruder also posted eight digs.
Junior middle
Emilie Schartner (
Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) was named to the all-tournament team, with her best match coming on Friday with six kills without an error against Ripon.
The Muskies return to Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play Wednesday but with another tough assignment. Lakeland goes on the road to face defending conference champion Concordia University Wisconsin for a match beginning at 7 p.m.
