ROCKFORD, Ill. –
Shannon Bishop (
Sr.-River Grove, Ill.) sent home 13 kills,
Sydney Pingitore (
So.-Kenosha, Wis.) added 18 digs and three service aces and the Lakeland University women's volleyball team stayed in the thick of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference race with a three-set sweep of Rockford University Friday night.
The Muskies topped the Regents 25-20, 25-11, 25-19 to end a four-match losing streak, all in non-conference play, and improve to 6-1 in the NACC. Lakeland remained one of four teams in the conference with zero or one losses in conference as it started the second half of its league slate.
The Muskies (12-12 overall) were in control in the late stages of all three sets, though they were pushed in the first and third sets. Rockford (6-17 overall, 0-9 NACC) was within two points late in the first set, and also cut a six-point deficit down to three late in the third set.
Lakeland was the more consistent team throughout the night, though, hitting .248 for the match (39 kills, 14 errors) and at least .207 in all three sets. The Muskies also added eight service aces and seven blocks, getting the better of the Regents (four aces, two blocks) in both categories.
Bishop hit .458 for the match with 13 kills and just two errors in 24 attacks.
Erin Iwanski (
Sr.-St. Francis, Ill.) also posted nine kills plus two solo blocks,
Abby Baumgartner (
Jr.-Kewaunee, Wis.) added seven kills and 11 digs and
Natalie Borman (
Jr.-Harvard, Ill.) added five kills plus five blocks (one solo, four assisted).
Pingitore led the Muskies in both digs and aces, while
Neenah Primas (
Jr.-Oostburg, Wis.) finished with 31 assists plus three kills.
Della Crain led Rockford with 11 kills with just one error for a .323 hitting percentage. Crain provided a good share of the offense for the Regents, who hit .048 with 24 kills and 19 errors.
Lakeland faces a key NACC test tomorrow when it travels to face Edgewood College at noon. The match will be the first of a doubleheader on the day in Madison for the Muskies, who also will face Central (Iowa) College at 2 p.m. at the Todd Wehr Edgedome.
