WAUWATOSA, Wis. – The Lakeland University women's volleyball team struggled on the attack much of the night and fell to Wisconsin Lutheran College in four sets in both teams' first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match of season Wednesday night.
The Muskies extended the match to four sets before falling 25-19, 25-20, 14-25, 25-20. Lakeland dropped to 4-5 overall while Wisconsin Lutheran improved to 3-4 on the young season.
The Muskies hit .097 for the night with 34 kills and 23 errors, and particular had trouble in the three sets they lost, with 19 kills and 21 errors for a negative attack percentage over the first, second and fourth sets.
Lakeland dominated the third set with 15 kills and just two errors for a .361 hitting percentage to stay in the match, scoring seven straight points to turn a 6-4 deficit into an 11-6 lead and later finishing the set with the final six points. The Muskies' hopes of that momentum carrying over would fade quickly in the fourth set, though, as WLC scored the first five points of the set to jump out to a quick lead.
Lakeland would rally back to a 16-16 tie late in the second, and still trailed just 22-20 after a Lutheran service error. WLC's Grace Frey delivered a kill, though, was part of a block to get to 24-20 and then registered a solo block on match point to close it out.
Susana Stevens (
So.-Las Cruces, N.M.) finished with nine kills and
Brelynn Scoles (
Jr.-Kewaskum, Wis.) added eight kills with just one error in 22 attacks for a .318 hitting percentage.
Katie Metzler (
Jr.-Kewaunee, Wis.) also totaled seven kills plus five blocks and four service aces.
Emily Duchow (
Sr.-Potter, Wis.) also totaled 26 assists and two aces and
Maeve Sullivan (
Jr.-Chicago, Ill.) led the back row defense with nine digs.
Cassie Patchett led Wisconsin Lutheran with 11 kills, Kayla Wigley finished with ten kills and Frey added nine kills. Patchett and Frey in particular proved tough to stop, combining for 20 kills with just two errors in a total of 31 attempts for a .581 attack percentage between the two. The Warriors as a team hit .219 with 46 kills and 21 errors and also added nine service aces.
Lakeland will this weekend compete in the Sandy Schumacher Memorial Tournament hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The Muskies open play Friday against St. Catherine (Minn.) University at 5 p.m. in Eau Claire.
