PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Lakeland University men's volleyball team made the final surge in a marathon match that went back and forth all night and earned a five-set victory over Rockford University Friday at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies outlasted the Regents 26-28, 29-27, 25-21, 22-25, 15-11 in a five-setter that took two hours and 18 minutes to complete. Lakeland defeated its Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference rival in a non-conference meeting and improved to 1-1 on the season, while Rockford fell to 1-2.

The two teams were even seemingly the entire match, combining for 48 ties and 26 lead changes. The first two sets went past 25 points, making it no surprise when the teams went to a deciding fifth set.

The Muskies got off to a slow start in the final set as Rockford scored the first two points, but Lakeland answered with a 9-3 run to go ahead 9-5. The Muskies would never trail again, though a five-point lead was cut to two near the end at 13-11 before the match ended after Rockford committed an attack error and a setting error on the final two points.

The teams split the opening two sets, which included a combined 31 ties and 19 lead changes. Lakeland led by five in the first set at 16-11 before the Regents rallied, fighting off two set points in winning the opener. Rockford then led by three just past the halfway point in the second, but the Muskies closed back in and finally clinched it at 29-27 after consecutive kills by setter Chase Anderson (Fr.-Hartford, Wis.).

Lakeland then rallied from an early 8-2 deficit in the third set, taking the lead by midpoint at 13-12 and gaining some distance late with a 5-1 run. The Muskies led most of the fourth set too but it was the Regents' turn for a rally, finishing on a 12-4 run after trailing 18-13 and forcing a final set.

Ben Busalacchi (Jr.-Muskego, Wis.) finished with 17 kills as well as 14 digs, leading the team in both categories. Levi Everts (So.-Hartford, Wis.) also finished with 10 kills and six digs

Anderson joined Busalacchi with a double-double, finishing with 20 assists and 10 digs. Martin Carrillo (Sr.-Michoacan, Mexico) also added 14 assists. The Muskies hit .141 as a team with 49 kills and 30 errors and added nine service aces, but also committed 33 service errors.

Connor McNear led the Regents with 10 kills. Josh Albers finished with 29 assists and Da'Quan Bates led the defense with 13 digs.

Lakeland finished with a pair of wins on the day, including also defeating Bryant & Stratton College in three sets earlier. The Muskies prevailed 25-17, 25-17, 28-26 in what was officially an exhibition match. Everts finished with a team-high seven kills and Alex Burgos (Sr.-Salem, Wis.) added 10 assists.