LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Katie Metzler (Jr.-Kewaunee, Wis.) and Hailey DeGrave (Jr.-Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) put down 14 kills each and the Lakeland University women's volleyball team came back from a 2-1 deficit after three sets to defeat Carroll University in five sets Friday night at the Forester Invitational hosted by Lake Forest College.

The Muskies eventually prevailed 25-15, 22-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-9 for their first win of the 2022 season. Lakeland bounced back from a close three-set loss to Carthage College in its season opener the night before to win in five for the first time since a win over Augustana (Ill.) College April 10, 2021 at the AVCA Invitational in Indianapolis.

Lakeland finished the fourth set strong on a 7-2 run to push the match to a fifth set, and another big run in the deciding set proved to be the difference. The Muskies scored a run of eight straight points, turning a 3-3 tie into an 11-3 lead. Freshman Katelyn Kitsembel (Lake Mills, Wis.) served the duration of the run and delivered back-to-back aces, DeGrave and Kelly Swope (Jr.-Heyworth, Ill.) added kills and Metzler and Swope combined on a block as Carroll (1-1 overall) burned both of its timeouts in the stretch.

The Pioneers briefly rallied back with four straight points to get within 11-7, but the Muskies steadied from there. Consecutive kills by Swope and DeGrave pushed the lead to 13-7, and Susana Stevens (So.-Las Cruces, N.M.) closed it out with a kill on match point for the clincher.

Lakeland got off to a good start to the match with a solid opening set win and then responded after the second set slipped away. The Muskies led 20-16 in the second and appeared well on their way to a 2-0 lead in the match, but the Pioneers scored seven straight points and finished the set on a 9-2 run.

Swope and Stevens both also added nine kills each, while setter Emily Duchow (Sr.-Potter, Wis.) set a career high for assists for the second straight night, finishing with 41 assists plus 11 digs. Maeve Sullivan (Jr.-Chicago, Ill.) also finished with 18 digs and a team-high four service aces, and Brelynn Scoles (Jr.-Kewaskum, Wis.) added 15 digs.

The Muskies are back in action at the Forester Invitational Saturday with two more matches, first facing Trine (Ind.) University at 11 a.m. before taking on Augustana at 3 p.m.