Lakeland University rallied from the brink in both the second and fourth sets, the second time closing out the match for a hard-earned four-set win over Marian University in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference men's volleyball match Wednesday night.

The Muskies needed multiple comebacks but prevailed 25-22, 26-24, 20-25, 27-25 for their second conference win of the season. Lakeland defeated the Sabres for the second time in two meetings this season and improved to 6-14 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

The Muskies never trailed in winning the first set but were down 24-23 in a very close second set that saw 16 ties and six lead changes. A service error, a kill by Ben Miller (Jr.-Middleton, Wis.) and a Marian setting error allowed Lakeland to rally to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

The Sabres jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead on the way to winning the third set, but the fourth was another close one with 13 ties and five lead changes. The Muskies appeared in good shape with a 21-18 lead, but Marian rallied, fought off a match point and had a set point of its own at 25-24. Nate Vanderwaal (Sr.-Rockford, Ill.) followed with a kill to tie it again, then combined with Isaiah Vance (Sr.-Zion, Ill.) for a block, and the match ended on the next point with a Marian attack error.

Vanderwaal battled through to finish with 24 kills with 15 errors in 65 attack attempts as well as 12 digs. Miller also added 13 kills and Matt Misheck (Jr.-Oak Forest, Ill.) also chipped in eight kills plus a team-high 16 digs.

Cameron Ekum (Jr.-Wales, Wis.) also finished with 43 assists plus 10 digs and five service aces. Vance also added four blocks (two solo, two assisted).

The Muskies hit .109 as a team with 52 kills and 34 errors, while the Sabres hit at a .106 rate with 36 kills and 23 errors. Lakeland finished with a 10-3 advantage in service aces, while Marian finished with a 9-5 lead in blocks.

Jacob DeGroot finished with 13 kills to lead Marian (6-10 overall, 0-5 NACC), which remained winless in NACC play. Liam Skinner also finished with 11 kills and five block assists while Isaiahs Mena totaled 15 digs.

The Muskies totaled 26 kills as a team but hit just .058 with 20 errors in 103 swings. Lakeland also committed 14 service errors, eight more than Concordia.

Lakeland is off for more than a week until its final home match of the season when it hosts Aurora University next Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m.