MILWAUKEE – Cardinal Stritch University set a scorching pace on the attack and the Lakeland University men's volleyball team was defeated in three sets Friday night in a non-conference match.

The Muskies came up short in their attempt at a second straight win over a nationally ranked team as the Wolves prevailed 25-22, 25-18, 25-16. Lakeland played respectably but fell to a team ranked seventh in the most recent NAIA Top 10 coaches poll.

The Muskies (10-15 overall) were aiming to back up their four-set win over 15th-ranked MSOE on Wednesday but were unable to match the hosts' strong hitting. Stritch (20-7 overall) hit .403 for the match with 40 kills and just nine errors in 77 attacks, and the Wolves also added eight service aces and 11 team blocks.

Lakeland hit .258 in a close first set with 10 ties and five lead changes, but Cardinal Stritch was even better at .323. The Wolves only got better as the match went on and trailed only once briefly in the third set over the final two sets.

The Muskies were still within one late in the second set after a kill by Cameron Ekum (Fr.-Wales, Wis.) made it 18-17. Stritch closed it out with a 7-1 run, though, including four kills, a block and two Lakeland errors.

Ekum, Dakota Hunter (Jr.-Waukesha, Wis.) and Desmond Williams (Jr.-Riverside, Calif.) all finished with eight kills each, with Matt Misheck (Fr.-Oak Forest, Ill.) also adding five kills. The Muskies finished hitting .192 for the match with 29 kills and 14 errors in 78 attacks.

Ekum also totaled team highs with 16 assists and six digs, while Addison Mertler (Jr.-Boca Raton, Fla.) also added 11 assists and two service aces.

Trent Sellers led Cardinal Stritch with nine kills without an error in 13 attacks (.692 hitting percentage). Blake Janz also added seven kills without an error plus two service aces.

Lakeland is back in action next Friday when it travels to face another nationally ranked team in Benedictine University at 7 p.m. in Lisle, Ill., in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play.