PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Three consecutive sets went down to the wire, but all three went against the Lakeland University men's volleyball team in a three-set loss to Roosevelt (Ill.) University Thursday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
The Lakers prevailed 26-24, 25-23, 25-23 in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The teams combined for 34 ties and 16 lead changes, but it was Roosevelt winning its season opener while the Muskies dropped to 1-2 on the season.
Lakeland allowed a close first to slip away, as Roosevelt fought off a pair of set points and scored the final four points of the set to steal the opener. The Muskies also led 20-15 late in the second set before the Lakers scored six straight points to take the lead, and then finished the second scoring three of the final four points after the teams were tied at 22-22.
Lakeland also had an early 9-7 lead in the first set before Roosevelt pulled ahead, leading by as much as four points at 20-16. The Muskies staged a rally late to tie at 22-22, including kills from
Ben Busalacchi (
Jr.-Muskego, Wis.) and
Chase Anderson (
Fr.-Hartford, Wis.), but the Lakers won it on their second match point when a Lakeland attack went wide.
The Muskies finished with advantages in blocks and service aces but struggled to get many clean attacks. Lakeland finished with nine team blocks and seven service aces, but posted just 20 kills with 18 errors in 90 attacks for a .022 hitting percentage.
Busalacchi led the Muskies with seven kills and added eight digs and three service aces.
Jakob Donohue (
Fr.-Shorewood, Wis.) finished with five blocks (two solo, three assisted),
Colin Kenney (
Jr.-Shorewood, Wis.) posted five kills, seven digs and three block assists and
Levi Everts (
So.-Hartford, Wis.) added a team-high 10 digs. Anderson also finished with 12 assists and six digs.
Roosevelt, an NAIA member from Chicago, hit .100 as a team with 31 kills and 21 errors led by Shawn McCarthy with 13 kills. Conrad Para also added nine kills and nine digs and Chris Fermaintt notched a match-high 14 digs. Setter Tony Galeana also finished with 23 assists plus nine digs, four block assists and four kills.
Lakeland is back in action Saturday when it travels to La Crosse for a triangular hosted by Viterbo University. The Muskies first face the host V-Hawks at noon and then take on Morningside (Iowa) University at 2:30 p.m.
