CHICAGO – Shelby Welsh (Sr.-Ogallala, Neb.) tied her career high with 16 kills and the Lakeland University women's volleyball team got back on track with a three-set sweep of Illinois Institute of Technology Tuesday night in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play.

The Muskies nearly lost a big lead in the first set but held on and then rolled to a 25-23, 25-9, 25-12 win over first-year NACC member Illinois Tech. Lakeland won for the sixth time in seven matches and improved to 13-7 overall and 4-2 in conference play.

Welsh was the leader of an efficient and nearly error-free attack, as she finished with 16 kills and just three errors in 28 attacks for a .464 hitting percentage. The senior got on a dominant roll, at one point finishing four consecutive points with kills early in the second set, when she registered eight of her 16 kills.

The Muskies as a team hit .350 with 43 kills and just seven errors in 103 swings. Welsh was one of several Muskies to hit at a high rate, as Megan Goeser (So.-Plymouth, Wis.) also posted nine kills without an error and Shannon Bishop (Jr.-River Grove, Ill.) added seven kills and just one error.

Lakeland was in control most of the night, save for a nervous moment late in the first set. The Scarlet Hawks (3-11 overall, 1-4 NACC) trailed 21-12 when they suddenly rallied to within one point, with Allison Wilkins serving an ace to get Illinois Tech within 23-22. The Muskies finally closed out the set with kills by Emilie Schartner (Sr.-Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) and Eliana Arbetman (Sr.-Oak Park, Ill.), the latter closing it out on the second set point.

Lakeland thoroughly dominated the second set, racing to a 21-1 lead that included 19 straight points. The third set was slightly closer, but the Muskies again went on a spree with a 16-3 run to take a 17-6 lead on the way to victory.

Emma Bruder (Sr.-Frankfort, Ill.) led the back row defense with 12 digs, with Welsh also adding 10 digs. Neenah Primas (So.-Oostburg, Wis.) finished with 32 assists while setting and Bishop posted four service aces.

Leah van der Sanden led Illinois Tech with seven kills and Courtney Darling finished with a match-high 13 digs. The Scarlet Hawks hit .050 as a team with 25 kills and 20 errors in 101 attack attempts.

Lakeland is back home Saturday when it welcomes Marian University for a noon first serve at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.