Lakeland University has withdrawn from the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Women's Volleyball Tournament due to COVID-19 protocols, the school announced Friday.

Lakeland was set to play Wisconsin Lutheran College in a North Division semifinal last night before the match was postponed, as was Thursday's other NACC North semifinal between Edgewood College and Concordia University Wisconsin. The NACC was still considering next steps but the Muskies will not continue in the tourney.

Lakeland's final non-conference match of the season against UW-Oshkosh that was scheduled for this Monday also has been canceled. The Muskies conclude their 2020-21 season with a 7-5 record.

Head coach Ryan Schopf shared the following statement:

"Our players are devastated after learning the news that we would have to pull out of the conference tournament. We were playing our best volleyball of the year and it is frustrating to not have the chance to compete. Our players and staff have done everything we've asked them to do from a COVID protocol perspective. We just ran into a little bit of bad luck. Even though it is difficult, we have to do what is best for Lakeland University and the other institutions in the NACC. We wish the remaining teams the best of luck and are now focusing on keeping our athletes safe and healthy and getting them through the semester."