PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Aurora University won the first two sets and the Lakeland University men's volleyball team's attempt to rally was stopped in four sets Friday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Spartans prevailed 25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 25-18 to keep the Muskies still looking for their first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win of the season. Aurora improved to 9-4 overall and 4-1 in conference while Lakeland is now 3-6 overall and 0-4 in conference play.

The Spartans also continued their mastery of the Muskies, improving to 7-0 in the all-time series. Aurora did it with a big advantage on serve and also blocking, finishing with a 14-5 edge in service aces and a 12-3 lead in blocks.

The Spartans controlled the first set and came back in the second set after Lakeland staked an early 5-1 lead. Aurora tied the set by 8-8 and took a 17-12 lead before the Muskies made a charge with six straight points. Colin Kenney (So.-Shorewood, Wis.) served an ace and kept the Spartans off balance with a number of other serves, including consecutive kills by Cameron Ekum (Sr.-Wales, Wis.) for an 18-17 lead.

The Spartans responded late in the second with four straight points and closed it out for a 2-0 lead in the match, and Aurora led early in the third set until Lakeland fought back. A 10-3 run was capped by a Ben Busalacchi (So.-Muskego, Wis.) kill for a 19-14 lead, and the Muskies held on after the Spartans drew within a point on two occasions late in the set.

Aurora rebounded in the fourth set, taking the lead for good with an early 4-1 run to go ahead 5-3. The Muskies cut a six-point deficit down to two in the middle stages, with a pair of aces by Ekum part of four straight points to get within 17-15, but the Spartans scored eight of the final 11 points to finish the match.

The Muskies hit .110 for the match with 36 kills and 25 errors. Matt Misheck (Sr.-Oak Forest, Ill.) led with ten kills, Busalacchi added eight kills and Ekum also finished with eight kills plus 25 assists, seven digs and three service aces. Drew Green (Jr.-Brooklyn Center, Minn.) also paced Lakeland with nine digs from his libero spot.

Aurora hit .144 with 35 kills and 21 errors with Thomas Kovanic leading with ten kills. John McCormack added seven kills and also contributed ten blocks (two solo, eight assisted) and James Karwin finished with 28 assists plus four aces.

The Muskies are back on the court Saturday when they host Rockford University at noon.