AURORA, Ill. – Lakeland University made a late comeback attempt in a crucial third set, but Aurora University hung on and handed the Muskies a four-set loss in a Saturday afternoon non-conference men's volleyball match.

After dropping the first set, the Muskies picked up the second before falling in four sets 19-25, 25-17, 20-25, 20-25 in a non-league match between Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference foes. The loss gives Lakeland a 4-11 overall record, while the win improves an Aurora team that received votes in the most recent AVCA NCAA Division III top 15 poll to 9-1.

Both teams traded sets to begin the match, with Aurora claiming the first before Lakeland struck back to win the second. The Muskies trailed by as much as nine in the third set, but with the score at 23-16 in favor of Aurora, the Muskies roared back with four unanswered points, including two kills from Matt Misheck (Jr.-Oak Forest, Ill.), to force an Aurora timeout. The Spartans regained their composure and scored the next two to seal the third set before pulling away late in the fourth set to clinch the match.

Nate Vanderwaal (Sr.-Rockford, Ill.) led all players with 20 kills, Misheck added 17 kills, and both players tacked on a service ace. Ben Miller (Jr.-Middleton, Wis.) had six kills and tied Jesse Peters (Fr.-Lake Mary, Fla.) with a team-high two blocks. Cameron Ekum (Jr.-Wales, Wis.) recorded 37 assists and 12 digs, and Maui Viola (Jr.-Gurnee, Ill.) set a career-high in digs for the second straight day with 17 digs.

Lakeland hit .239 as a team with 49 kills and 21 errors, and Aurora hit .325 with 51 kills and 12 errors. Thomas Kovanic led Aurora with 15 kills, James Karwin notched 40 assists and Austin Bayner added 12 kills plus four blocks.

The Muskies continue their traveling next Friday with a 7 p.m. match in Mequon against Concordia University Wisconsin for their second conference match of the season.