PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Milwaukee School of Engineering posted a robust .372 hitting percentage for the match to negate a solid performance by the Lakeland University men's volleyball team in a three-set match Saturday afternoon at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies played well but dropped a 26-24, 25-21, 25-21 decision to their Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference rival. Lakeland fell to 3-5 overall and 0-3 in conference, while MSOE moved to 7-2 overall and 3-0 in NACC play.

In a match that included some efficient hitting from both sides, the Raiders finished with 40 kills and just 11 errors in 78 attacks. MSOE's middle blockers were especially tough to stop, as Jacob Sirny finished with 12 kills in 16 swings and Tommy Clausz added 11 kills in 16 attacks.

The Muskies hit a respectable .192 for the match, well above their season average of .107 coming in. Lakeland posted 26 kills and 11 errors in 78 attack attempts, including nine kills from Matt Misheck (Sr.-Oak Forest, Ill.) and six kills without an error from setter Cameron Ekum (Sr.-Wales, Wis.).

The Muskies led most of the first set and held a 16-12 lead late in the set after a block by Tim Matijevic (So.-Palatine, Ill.) and Colin Kenney (So.-Shorewood, Wis.). Lakeland still led 20-18 after an MSOE service error, but the Raiders followed with three straight points to set up a back-and-forth finish to the set. The teams were tied at 21, 22, 23 and 24, including the Muskies surviving one set point, but the guests scored the final two points to clinch the opener.

MSOE held a lead most of the second set despite Lakeland hitting .346 with 11 kills and just two errors. The Muskies staged a lead in the third set, getting more than halfway to 25 with an ace by Ekum for a 13-9 lead, but the Raiders went on a 7-1 run to take the lead back. Lakeland came back to take the lead at 18-17 on a block by Ekum and Kenney, but the Engineers rebounded with three straight points, including back-to-back service aces by David Pineda. The Muskies never got closer than one the rest of the way.

Kenney and Ben Busalacchi (So.-Muskego, Wis.) both added five kills each. Ekum led Lakeland with 18 assists, Drew Green (Jr.-Brooklyn Center, Minn.) notched 11 digs and Kenney and Matijevic both added four block assists each. Busalacchi also added three of the Muskies' 10 service aces.

Lakeland is back home for its next match this coming Friday, March 4 when it hosts Aurora University in NACC play at 7 p.m.