RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The Lakeland University women's volleyball team came back to play after a nearly two-week break and earned its first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win of the season, topping Concordia University Chicago in three sets Friday night.

The Muskies prevailed 25-22, 25-15, 25-23 on the road at Concordia's Geiseman Gymnasium. Lakeland earned its second win of the season, improving to 2-9 overall and 1-1 in the NACC.

The Muskies received 15 kills from Susana Stevens (Fr.-Las Cruces, N.M.) and ten more from Brelynn Scoles (So.-Kewaskum, Wis.) in sporting the more effective attack on the evening, hitting .168 as a team (36 kills, 17 errors) to the Cougars' .057 rate (30 kills, 24 errors). Lakeland also added ten service aces and eight blocks and made the plays late in close first and third sets on the way to the sweep.

The teams were tied 22-22 in a first set that included 11 ties and three lead changes before the Muskies scored the final three points. Emily Duchow (Jr.-Potter, Wis.) and Isabella Westerholm (Fr.-Prior Lake, Minn.) combined on a block, Maeve Sullivan (So.-Chicago, Ill.) served an ace and the set concluded on a Concordia attack error to give Lakeland an early lead in the match.

The Muskies dominated the second set to take a 2-0 lead, but then had to sweat out another close set in the third with 12 ties and six lead changes. Concordia (7-8 overall, 1-2 NACC) even held a 22-21 lead late before a pair of kills by Stevens and a pair of Cougar attack errors to wrap up the match.

Westerholm finished with six blocks (one solo, five assisted) and S'Niya Gantt (Fr.-Dallas, Texas) added four assisted blocks. Sydney Pingitore (Sr.-Kenosha, Wis.) finished with 16 digs, Duchow added 10 digs plus a team-high 21 assists, and Roseily Carrasquillo (Fr.-Yabucoa, Puerto Rico) led Lakeland with three service aces.

The Muskies stay in the Chicago area and River Forest to play again Saturday when they take on Dominican University at noon.