The Muskies are undefeated in the all-time series with Illinois Institute of Technology, though the teams have not met in three years with the COVID-19 pandemic putting a temporary halt to the series. Lakeland won the last meeting here at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium April 6, 2019, sweeping the Scarlet Hawks 25-20, 25-15, 25-21. The Muskies swept IIT twice that year, also posting a win in Chicago March 2, 2019. Lakeland also topped Illinois Tech in four sets Feb. 11, 2017, and won the teams' first-ever meeting with a three-set sweep at home Jan. 15, 2016 in what was the Scarlet Hawks' first match as a varsity program.

Lakeland last time out: Lost at St. Norbert 3-1 Wednesday
The Green Knights rallied to score the final four points of the fourth set and dealt the Muskies a 25-19, 15-25, 25-23, 25-23 loss in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play. The Muskies held a late lead and were two points away from winning both the third and fourth sets, but St. Norbert pulled out both to defeat Lakeland for the first time. Colin Kenney finished with a career-high 13 kills. Cam Ekum also added 12 kills plus 16 assists and two service aces, Matt Misheck and Ben Busalacchi both also added six kills and three service aces each. Alex Burgos led the back row defense with ten digs and Tim Matijevic finished with four blocks (one solo, three assisted).

Illinois Tech last time out: Lost to Aurora 3-0 Wednesday
The Scarlet Hawks hit at a high rate but were unable to slow down a strong Spartans attack in a 25-23, 25-22, 25-19 loss at home Wednesday night. Aurora hit .424 for the match with 50 kills and just eight errors, and the guests needed it with IIT also attacking at a solid .296 clip with 37 kills and eight errors. The Scarlet Hawks let the first set slip away after leading 23-22 late, and Aurora pulled away late in a back-and-forth second set and then again late in the third set to clinch the sweep. Michal Markevych led Illinois Tech with 11 kills and three service aces and Grant Couper added nine kills plus a team-best eight digs.

About the Scarlet Hawks: Illinois Tech has shown progress in just its second full season in the NACC, after the 2020 season was cut short by the coronavirus and the school chose not to compete with the pandemic still going last year. The Scarlet Hawks were in the race for a spot in the six-team NACC Tournament deep into the season until being eliminated from contention with the loss to Aurora on Wednesday. IIT opened the season winning five of its first seven matches but has dropped its last four and six of its last seven. The Scarlet Hawks are coached by Mark Johnston, who also coaches the Illinois Tech women's volleyball team and is an alumnus of Lakeland, graduating in 2005. He also played for for the Muskies' club men's volleyball program at the time from 2002-05 and was a two-time all-conference selection and ranks fourth on the club program's career list for assists.

Senior Night: Tonight is the final match of the season for the Muskies and the final at home for two seniors. Cam Ekum and Matt Misheck were honored on Senior Night a year ago but both took advantage of the extra year of eligibility awarded by the NCAA to all athletes in the 2020-21 school year to play one more season. Both Ekum and Misheck will leave their mark all over Lakeland's varsity men's volleyball record books, including Ekum holding the school's career record for service aces (130) and ranking 2nd in program history in assists (1,928), 5th in digs (535) and matches played (98), 9th in kills (423) and 10th in blocks (68). Misheck is second all-time in aces (81), 4th in kills (674) and matches played (101), 5th in blocks (91) and 9th in digs (394).