MILWAUKEE –
Megan Goeser (
So.-Plymouth, Wis.) stepped up with 12 kills and the Lakeland University women's volleyball team withstood a test from Milwaukee School of Engineering for a four-set win Wednesday night in its regular season conference finale.
The Muskies finished their Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference schedule with a 23-25, 25-14, 25-19, 28-26 win and found out they'll be the No. 4 seed in the six-team NACC Tournament next week. Lakeland will host a first round match on Tuesday against fifth-seeded Concordia University Chicago at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
The Muskies (20-9 overall, 9-3 NACC) also reached the 20-win mark for the first time since 2014 with the hard-fought win over the Raiders (9-16 overall, 3-9 NACC). Lakeland did not have its best on the night, hitting just .057 as a team with 43 kills and 33 errors, but came back after losing the first set to dominate the second set, pull away in the third and then finally shake MSOE in a tough fourth set.
The teams were tied 14 times in the fourth and also traded the lead seven times, but the Muskies fought back to clinch it after trailing 22-19 late.
Shelby Welsh (
Sr.-Ogallala, Neb.) posted three of her eight kills for the night from that point, and
Abby Baumgartner (
So.-Kewaunee, Wis.) closed it out with a kill on Lakeland's third match point.
Lakeland received its most consistent production from its middle blockers, with Goeser totaling 12 kills and
Emilie Schartner (
Sr.-Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) also added six kills with just one error. Goeser also added a team-best four blocks (one solo, three assisted).
Shannon Bishop (
Jr.-River Grove, Ill.) also chipped in nine kills and added 14 digs.
Neenah Primas (
So.-Oostburg, Wis.) and
Brianna Johnson (
Sr.-Altoona, Wis.) both paced the defense with 20 digs, and Primas also added 36 assists from the setter spot. Welsh also added four service aces to her eight kills and also posted 15 digs.
Hannah Pekarek led MSOE with 11 kills and also finished with a match-high 26 digs. Shelby Borchardt also added 25 digs, but the Raiders also struggled with efficiency on the attack, hitting .036 with 41 kills and 35 errors.
The Muskies will take on Concordia Chicago for the second time in 10 days when the teams square off in the NACC tourney. Lakeland defeated Concordia in four sets this past Saturday.
Lakeland also has one final regular season date left on Saturday when it faces St. Norbert College at 1 p.m. and then Lawrence University at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The matches will take place in Madison and will be hosted by Edgewood College as part of a four-team event involving doubleheaders between the two NACC schools and their Midwest Conference counterparts.
2018 NACC Tournament Bracket
