LISLE, Ill. – Lakeland University came out strong on the road winning the first set but Benedictine University responded to win the next three sets and defeat the Muskies in four sets Saturday afternoon in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference women's volleyball match.
The Eagles won 21-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-19 to send Lakeland to its fourth straight loss and another loss to one of the NACC's leaders. Benedictine moved to 7-2 in conference (11-10 overall) and remained one match behind conference-leading Aurora University, while the Muskies dropped to 3-16 overall and 2-7 in the NACC.
Lakeland took at least one set in defeat for the fourth straight match and the seventh time this season. The Muskies also won the opening set for the fifth straight match and the third time in five days, but were unable to sustain the early momentum.
Lakeland came back from a 21-19 deficit at the end of the first set, scoring the final six points including kills from
Susana Stevens (
Fr.-Las Cruces, N.M.) and
Isabella Westerholm (
Fr.-Prior Lake, Minn.), a block from Westerholm and
Kelly Swope (
So.-Heyworth, Ill.) and then an ace on set point by
Katie Metzler (
So.-Kewaunee, Wis.) to close the set.
The final three sets would be full of missed opportunities, though, as the Muskies were in good position late in all three sets but were unable to capitalize.
Two straight kills by Stevens brought Lakeland to a 22-22 tie in the second set before Benedictine scored the final three points to win the set. The teams were tied at 18-18 late in the third set after an ace by
Sydney Pingitore (
Sr.-Kenosha, Wis.) before the Eagles closed scoring seven of the final eight points. And the Muskies led 17-15 late in the third set before Benedictine finished on a 10-2 run to close out the match.
Stevens finished with 13 kills and
Brelynn Scoles (
So.-Kewaskum, Wis.) added 12 kills to lead the Lakeland attack. Metzler also added eight kills, two aces and two block assists. Pingitore posted 22 digs and
Emily Duchow (
Jr.-Potter, Wis.) finished with 26 assists.
Brooke Huizenga led Benedictine with 17 kills and Yngrid JeanPhillipe added 14 kills and six blocks (two solo, four assisted). The Eagles hit .273 for the match with 57 kills and 18 errors and also added nine team blocks.
The Muskies return to play Tuesday when they host Alverno College at 7 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
