MADISON, Wis. – Matt Misheck (Sr.-Oak Forest, Ill.) tied his career high with 18 kills and the Lakeland University men's volleyball team received another life at the end of the third set and took advantage to rally all the way back for a five-set win over Edgewood College Saturday afternoon at the Todd Wehr Edgedome.

The Muskies battled back for an 18-25, 19-25, 26-24, 25-21, 15-12 win in their first five-set match of the season. Lakeland won its third straight match and improved to 6-6 overall and is now 3-4 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

The Muskies came back from the brink of defeat against the second-year program Edgewood, fighting off three set points after trailing 24-21 late in the third set. An Eagles service error, an ace by Misheck, a kill by Cameron Ekum (Sr.-Wales, Wis.) and a pair of blocks, the last by Ekum and Tim Matijevic (So.-Palatine, Ill.) completed a rally from five points down late in the set to keep the match alive.

The Muskies then prevailed in a fourth set that was close most of the way with eight ties, but Lakeland never trailed in the set and scored seven of the final ten points after the teams were tied at 18-18. Ben Busalacchi (So.-Muskego, Wis.) had two kills late, Ekum added another service ace and Misheck also added two more kills, including the final on set point to send the match to a fifth set.

Edgewood (4-11 overall, 1-4 NACC) took an early 4-2 lead in the fifth set with four consecutive points, but the Muskies came back to tie at 4-4 and then took the lead with four consecutive points, including Ekum delivering a kill for a 9-6 lead. The Eagles rallied back to an 11-11 tie, but a kill by Levi Everts (Fr.-Hartford, Wis.) began a string of three straight points to get Lakeland to match point. Edgewood saved one point, but Everts delivered again with a kill from Ekum to complete the comeback.

Misheck tied his previous career high for kills set in 2019 against Mount St. Joseph (Ohio), including 12 kills over the final three sets. Busalacchi also added 11 kills and Everts set a freshman season high with eight kills and a .375 attack percentage in 16 swings.

Ekum also added seven kills and led Lakeland with 32 assists, 12 digs and four aces. Matijevic paced the defense at the net with five block assists. The Muskies hit .127 as a team with 49 kills and 31 errors in 142 attacks.

Max Dermody paced Edgewood with ten kills and added ten digs. Dylan Griffith led the defense with 14 digs and Bradley Reynolds served four of the Eagles' 13 aces.

Lakeland is back home for its next match Wednesday when it hosts Marian University at 7 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.