Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons (1-3 overall, 1-2 NACC)
at Lakeland University Muskies (2-2 overall, 2-1Â NACC)
Tuesday, March 2, 2021Â Â 7 p.m.
Woltzen Gymnasium
Lakeland/Concordia (Wis.) Game Notes  PDF
Coming in after two road wins last week, the Lakeland University men's volleyball team is back home and looks to avenge a 2020 loss when it hosts Concordia University Wisconsin Tuesday night for a 7 p.m. first serve at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
Fan attendance policy:Â Under current COVID-19 protocols, Lakeland University is currently not allowing any spectators for home sporting events.
Broadcast Information:Â Live video and statistics for all Lakeland men's volleyball home matches are available atÂ
http://www.lakelandmuskies.com/muskieslive.
Series history:Â 6th meeting, Lakeland leads 4-1
The Muskies held the upper hand in the first two seasons the teams played in 2018 and 2019, but the Falcons defeated Lakeland for the first time last year on Feb. 21, 2020, pulling out a five-set win by a score of 25-21, 26-28, 25-19, 23-25, 15-5. The win came despite the Muskies' Nate Vanderwaal setting a new school varsity single-match record with 29 kills. Concordia had chipped away at Lakeland in the series' first four meetings, as the Muskies won the first three via sweep before the Falcons took a set in Lakeland's 3-1 win in their second meeting in 2019.
Lakeland last time out: Won at Wisconsin Lutheran 3-0 Thursday
The Muskies made quick work of the Warriors in a 25-14, 25-9, 25-18 victory in the teams' first-ever meeting. Lakeland dominated the first-year WLC program on serve, setting a school and Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference record with 23 service aces, a number that is also the most in NCAA Division III this season.
Ben Busalacchi broke the Muskies' varsity single-match record with seven aces while
Cameron Ekum tied the previous mark of which he had tied himself last season, a mark he shared with
Tyler Boyce (2014) and Dakota Hunter (2018). Busalacchi also added seven kills,
Matt Misheck finished with six kills and four aces and
Colin Kenney added five aces plus four kills. The win was the second in three days for Lakeland, which also topped another first-year program with a sweep of Edgewood at home last Tuesday.
Concordia Wisconsin last time out: Lost at MSOE 3-0 Thursday
The Falcons saw a golden opportunity to win the first set slip away and never recovered after, falling to the Raiders 26-24, 25-16, 25-16. Concordia held a 24-21 lead in the first set but MSOE fought off three set points and scored five straight to take the set. CUW was never the same the rest of the way, posting a negative hitting percentage with a combined 10 kills and 20 errors in its final two sets. Spencer Herman led Concordia with six kills, eight digs and four block assists and James Althoff added four kills, four digs and three aces.
About the Falcons: Concordia is off to a 1-3 start overall and is 1-2 in the NACC. The Falcons have faced three similar opponents to Lakeland, having also swept Wisconsin Lutheran and also falling to nationally ranked Carthage in their season opener and also at Marian. CUW made strides last year in the program's third season, posting an 8-7 record in the COVID-19 abbreviated season for their first winning record.
Misheck on the move: Matt Misheck's four aces against Wisconsin Lutheran propelled him up Lakeland's varsity list for all-time service aces, and his 47 aces is tied with Dakota Hunter (2016-19) fifth all-time after he passed Addison Mertler (46 aces from 2016-19) for sixth. Misheck came into the season tied for seventh on the career list. Cam Ekum also continues to increase his record-holding number for career aces, as his six aces versus WLC now gives him 79 aces for his career.
Familiar name: Freshman
Tim Matijevic recorded his first two career kills against Wisconsin Lutheran. If his name sounds familiar, it should. Tim's older brother
Dan Matijevic played four years for the Muskies men's volleyball team from 2014-17. He was a member of the first Lakeland varsity team in 2014 and in his career played in 51 matches, totaling 199 kills, 63 digs and 50 blocks.
