THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – After seeing a two-set lead wiped away, the Lakeland University men's volleyball team recovered in time in the fifth set to defeat Medaille (N.Y.) College in its opening match on the second day of the Cal-Lu-Fornia Classic Saturday.

The Muskies prevailed 25-15, 25-20, 14-25, 19-25, 15-9 for their first win on their spring break trip in the two-day tournament hosted by Cal Lutheran University. Lakeland then closed out the tourney with a 25-14, 25-22, 25-20 loss to the University of California Santa Cruz, the No. 7-ranked team in the latest AVCA/NCAA Division III Top 15 Coaches Poll.

Cameron Ekum (Fr.-Wales, Wis.) posted 10 kills against Medaille, pacing an otherwise balanced attack. Four players finished with six kills each led by Dakota Hunter (Jr.-Waukesha, Wis.), who posted four of his six kills in the fifth set.

The Muskies also were strong at the net with 11 team blocks. Trevor Perry (Sr.-Mililani, Hawaii) posted six blocks (three solo, three assisted), and Desmond Williams (Jr.-Riverside, Calif.) added four blocks as well as six kills.

The second match against UC Santa Cruz saw Lakeland play from behind the entire way, never leading in any of the three sets. The Muskies hit a respectable .198 with 34 kills to just 15 errors, but couldn't match the Banana Slugs' .326 hitting percentage.

Williams concluded an outstanding weekend hitting with 14 kills. Addison Mertler (Jr.-Boca Raton, Fla.) totaled 16 assists for the match and 39 for the day, and J.T. Levitt (Jr.-Schaumburg, Ill.) added 25 digs over two matches.

Lakeland wraps up its California trip on Monday when it travels to face Hope International (Calif.) University in Fullerton for a 9 p.m. Central time start.