FOND DU LAC – Freshman
Ben Busalacchi (
Muskego, Wis.) recorded a match-high nine kills but the Lakeland University men's volleyball team bowed to Marian University in three sets Thursday night in both teams' Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference openers.
The Sabres cruised to a 25-12, 25-19, 25-15 win, recording their first-ever sweep of the Muskies in 11 meetings. Marian defeated Lakeland for the third time in the teams' 11 meetings.
The Muskies were playing for the first time in more than two weeks, since their season-opening three-set loss to nationally ranked Carthage Feb. 2. Lakeland played from behind virtually the entire night, leading only briefly on one occasion in both the second and third sets.
The Muskies committed 24 attack errors compared to 22 kills for a minus-.020 hitting percentage. Busalacchi was a bright spot with nine kills, but the rest of the team combined for just 13 kills.
Marian (2-0 overall, 1-0 NACC) was the much more efficient squad with 30 kills and 10 errors in 80 attacks for a .225 hitting percentage. Jacob Jurney totaled eight kills to lead a group of four players with at least five kills for the Sabres.
Marian used a 10-2 run in the middle of the first set to turn a slim 6-5 lead into a 16-7 bulge on the way to taking the first set. The Sabres looked poised to cruise through the second set when they scored ten of the first 13 points. Lakeland charged back with an 8-3 run to cut its deficit to 13-11, but Marian responded with six straight points. After falling behind 10-3 again in the third set, the Muskies could not mount a rally and the Sabres closed out the set shortly thereafter.
Colin Kenney (
Fr.-Shorewood, Wis.) also finished with four kills and added three block assists for Lakeland.
Cameron Ekum (
Sr.-Wales, Wis.) also led the team with 12 assists and eight digs plus three blocks (one solo, two assisted).
Lakeland is back home for its next contest when it welcomes first-year program Edgewood College Tuesday for a 7 p.m. first serve at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
