The Lakeland University women's volleyball team put up resistance at the net but couldn't generate enough firepower on the attack to defeat Aurora (Ill.) University Friday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Spartans swept the Muskies 25-16, 25-20, 25-18, pulling away late in all three sets of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match. Aurora remained undefeated in conference play at 3-0 (13-5 overall), while Lakeland dropped a match against yet another strong opponent and is now 1-2 in the NACC and 6-14 ovearll.

The Muskies were strong on the block with eight team blocks, including four over a span of eight points during a surge in the second half. Megan Goeser (Jr.-Plymouth, Wis.) contributed one solo block and four assisted blocks and Shannon Bishop (So.-River Grove, Ill.) also added five assisted blocks.

Lakeland struggled to find any consistency on the attack, though, hitting just .029 with 24 kills and 21 errors in 102 attempts. After Bishop and Shelby Block (Fr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) with five kills each, no other player had more than three kills.

The Muskies' struggles hitting showed through late in sets, when the Spartans pulled away late. Lakeland was tied 11-11 in the first set, trailed just 20-19 late in the second and 14-13 in the third before the guests surged.

Taylor Bubolz (Fr.-Howards Grove, Wis.) led Lakeland with 14 assists while Allison Errthum (Sr.-Joliet, Ill.) led with 13 digs. Abby Baumgartner (Fr.-Kewaunee, Wis.) also added three blocks (one solo, two assisted).

Katie Vondra had 12 kills to lead Aurora, which hit .186 with 38 kills and 19 errors. Emily Lines dished out 33 assists and Julia Wood finished with 12 digs.

Lakeland is back in action again Saturday when it hosts Benedictine (Ill.) University for a noon first serve at the Woltzen Gymnasium.