RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The Lakeland University men's volleyball team's first road trip of the season got off to a rocky start as Concordia University Chicago swept the Muskies in three sets Friday night at Geiseman Gymnasium.

The Cougars rolled 25-19, 25-18, 25-11 in what was also Lakeland's first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match of the season. The Muskies' three-match winning streak was snapped as they dropped to 3-2 overall.

Concordia (2-9 overall, 1-1 NACC) was in charge virtually the whole night and never trailed in any of the three sets. Lakeland fell behind 7-1 in the first set and was in chase mode thereafter, only able to pull into a tie at 5-5 and 7-7 in the second set.

The Muskies fought back from the early deficit in the first set to get as close as 20-18 late after a block by Tim Matijevic (So.-Palatine, Ill.) and Matt Misheck (Sr.-Oak Forest, Ill.). Concordia closed with five of the final six points, and would take control of the match for good midway through the second set with an 8-3 run to pull ahead 19-12 on the way to the set win. CUC also opened the third set on an 11-2 run including eight straight points.

Lakeland hit at a negative rate for the match, -.061 with 21 kills and 26 errors in 82 attacks. The Muskies also finished with 14 service errors to three aces. Misheck led with nine kills and Ben Busalacchi (So.-Muskego, Wis.) added six kills, Cameron Ekum (Sr.-Wales, Wis.) notched 20 assists. Drew Green (Jr.-Brooklyn Center, Minn.) paced the defense with 10 digs and Matijevic and Nick Equihua (Jr.-Santa Maria, Calif.) added three block assists each.

Concordia hit .262 for the match with 28 kills and 11 errors. Luke Vozenilek led the Cougars with 10 kills, Tyler Holubek added nine kills and 12 digs and Josh Rapley added three service aces.

The Muskies are in action again Saturday at noon in River Forest with a tough assignment taking on Dominican University, ranked No. 3 in the NCAA Division III AVCA Top 15 Coaches Poll.