The Lakeland University men's volleyball team knocked nationally ranked Benedictine University back on its heels for a time before falling in four sets Saturday night in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match.

The Muskies claimed the second set in convincing fashion but eventually were defeated 25-21, 15-25, 25-19, 25-22 at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium. The Eagles-ranked fifth in the latest AVCA/NCAA Division III Top 15 Coaches Poll-completed a sweep of the teams' two regular season matches.

Lakeland (7-9 overall, 3-6 NACC) saw a three-match winning streak snapped, but not before giving Benedictine a battle. The Muskies dominated the second set, at one point outscoring the Eagles 12-1, and the Muskies also led for a good portion of the third set before a late Benedictine rally.

Lakeland hit .169 as a team with 47 kills and 25 errors, not far behind the Eagles' .193 hitting rate (40 kills, 18 errors). Nathan Vanderwaal (Jr.-Rockford, Ill.) posted 14 kills and Dakota Hunter (Sr.-Waukesha, Wis.) added 13 kills.

Cameron Ekum (So.-Mukwonago, Wis.) finished with 37 assists and J.T. Levitt (Sr.-Schaumburg, Ill.) led the team with nine digs. The Muskies also finished with seven service aces, though they also finished with 20 service errors.

Elijah Medlock led Benedictine (15-2 overall, 8-1 NACC) with 15 kills as the Eagles remained in first place in the NACC.