Box Score 1 | Box Score 3 Matt Misheck (So.-Oak Forest, Ill.) led the attack in both matches and the Lakeland University men's volleyball team split a pair of matches in its home triangular, including a win over Concordia University Chicago in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play.

The Muskies swept Concordia 25-17, 25-17, 25-23 to open the day to earn their fourth win of the season and first in conference play. Lakeland later was defeated by Loras (Iowa) College in four sets, winning the opener before falling 24-26, 25-16, 25-21, 25-19. The split on the day leaves the Muskies with a 4-4 overall record on the season, and the win over CUC evened the NACC mark at 1-1.

Misheck totaled 10 kills against Concordia and also added seven digs, three service aces and three block assists in a complete performance. He also finished with 12 kills against Loras and also added two aces and six digs in the nightcap.

The Muskies were challenged in their opener by the first-year program of Concordia (4-3 overall, 0-2 NACC), which was competitive throughout, built a big lead early in the second set and also led late in the third set. Lakeland calmly worked its way back in both the second and third sets, though, including a 7-1 run to finish the third set and the match.

The Muskies posted 10 service aces against CUC, including four from Ben Miller (So.-Middleton, Wis.) and two more from Tali Coleman (Sr.-Honolulu, Hawaii). Coleman served an ace on match point to clinch it, and the big middle blocker also paced the team with four blocks (one solo, three assisted).

Desmond Williams (Sr.-Riverside, Calif.) also finished with eight kills and three blocks (one solo, two assisted) against the Cougars. Addison Mertler (Sr.-Boca Raton, Fla.) finished with 26 assists and J.T. Levitt (Sr.-Schaumburg, Ill.) added a season-high 16 digs.

The Muskies played from behind for much of their second match against Loras, though a late rally in the first set helped them sneak out an early 1-0 lead. Lakeland was down 16-9 in the first set but scored five straight points including an ace by Williams, and then chipped away again late in the set. Down 23-21, the Muskies finished with five of the final six points, with an ace from Cameron Ekum (So.-Mukwonago, Wis.) to close it out.

Loras (9-1 overall) led most of the second and third sets, though Lakeland started strong in the fourth set and led 15-11 after a kill by Nathan Vanderwaal (Jr.-Rockford, Ill.). The Duhawks finished the match on a 14-4 run, though, with Grant Ooms closing it out with a kill on the second match point.

Vanderwaal finished with 11 kills against Loras, Mertler tallied 32 assists and Levitt led the Muskies with 10 digs. Miller also added nine digs and Ekum finished with six kills and two service aces.

Loras also won the second match of the day, defeating Concordia Chicago in three sets 25-22, 25-18, 25-10. The Duhawks posted 23 aces over the two matches, including 13 against CUC plus 10 against Lakeland, with Alfredo Lopez serving four aces against the Cougars and six more against the Muskies.

Lakeland is back in action next on Friday when it travels to face nationally ranked Benedictine University at 7 p.m. in a NACC match in Lisle, Ill.

Box score Lakeland 3 CUC 0
Box score Loras 3 CUC 0
Box score Loras 3 Lakeland 1