The Lakeland University men's volleyball team made a charge in the second set but fell to UC Santa Cruz in four sets Thursday afternoon at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The visiting Banana Slugs defeated the Muskies 25-14, 20-25, 25-18, 25-13 in the mid-week afternoon non-conference matchup. UC Santa Cruz began its season and a 10-game trip through Wisconsin and Illinois with a win, while Lakeland dropped to 2-8 overall on the season.

The Muskies appeared in trouble when the guests won the first set easily, hitting .421 in the opening set, but Lakeland elevated its play in the second set and finished strong. The Muskies fell behind 10-5 but went on a 7-2 run to tie the score, and then closed the set on another run, coming from behind after trailing 18-16 to score nine of the final 11 points and tie the match at one set apiece.

The Banana Slugs slowly reasserted themselves in the third set with a 9-3 run to take a 14-8 lead on the way to winning the set. UC Santa Cruz also used another 8-2 run early in the fourth to take control and cruised the rest of the way to the win.

Lakeland finished the match hitting .103 as a team with 32 kills and 22 errors. The Muskies also had one of their best blocking matches of the season, recording six team blocks and deflecting numerous other Santa Cruz attacks back into play.

Ben Busalacchi (Fr.-Muskego, Wis.) led the Muskies with nine kills and Tim Matijevic (Fr.-Palatine, Ill.) added eight kills. Cameron Ekum (Sr.-Wales, Wis.) also added seven kills plus a team-high 19 assists and six digs. Maui Viola (Sr.-Gurnee, Ill.) also added a team-high 10 digs and Jesse Peters (So.-Port Mary, Fla.) led the defense at the net with three blocks (one solo, two assisted).

UC Santa Cruz hit .259 as a team with 45 kills and 17 errors and was led by Rowdy Lennon with 12 kills plus Zachary Thompson with 10 kills and just one error in 18 attacks (.500 hitting percentage). Aaron Fox added eight kills and nine digs, Tennessee Fulks tallied seven kills and a team-best 10 digs and Mohan Duvvuri contributed 33 assists. The Banana Slugs also added nine service aces led by Ethan Makishima with three.

Lakeland is home once again Friday night when it faces Wisconsin Lutheran College for a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match beginning at 6 p.m.