PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Kaitlyn Ramirez (So.-El Paso, Texas) delivered a service ace on the second match point for the Lakeland University women's volleyball to complete a rally from two sets down for a dramatic five-set victory over Marian University Thursday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies rallied to win 20-25, 23-25, 25-11, 25-22, 17-15 in an important battle for position in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference standings and also came back from a 2-0 deficit to win for the first time in more than five years. Lakeland had not won a match after losing the first two sets since a five-set victory over Cardinal Stritch at home in the 2018 season opener.

A match between two teams tied in the conference standings coming in was close almost the entire way. The teams combined for 51 ties and 27 lead changes in the match, including 12 ties and six lead changes in the final set alone.

The final lead change came shortly after the Muskies (9-10 overall, 4-3 NACC) faced two match points in the fifth set. Lakeland trailed 14-12 after a service ace by Marian's Reagan Jasica, but scored the next three points, including an ace by Brelynn Scoles (Sr.-Kewaskum, Wis.) to give the Muskies' their first match point.

An exchange of kills came next from the two big hitters in the match, with Marian's Serina Pehowski notching her 17th and final kill to tie the set back at 15-15 before Katie Metzler (Sr.-Kewaunee, Wis.) followed with her 13th kill to give Lakeland its second match point. Serving specialist Ramirez then entered and dropped in a short serve for her first ace of the season and to give the Muskies their third five-set win this season.

The Muskies fell behind early in the match, losing the opener after fading late in the first set and then letting the second set slip away. Lakeland led 23-20 late in the second set, just two points from tying the match, but Marian (11-9 overall, 3-4 NACC) scored the final five points of the set, including a pair of aces by Anna Tapia and a kill by Harley Bartels to close the set.

The Muskies breezed to a win in the third set, with runs of five and six points in an early 11-2 burst, and Lakeland came back from an 18-16 deficit in the fourth set to get to set point at 24-19. The Sabres again were a tough out at the end of a set, though, scoring three straight points before Roseily Carrasquillo (Jr.-Yabucoa, Puerto Rico) set it over on two on the fourth set point to finally finish the set.

The teams then were tied seven times early in the deciding set before Lakeland scored three straight, the last on a block by Kelly Swope (Sr.-Heyworth, Ill.) and Isabella Westerholm (Jr.-Prior Lake, Minn.) to take a 9-7 lead. Marian came back, though, scoring four straight to go ahead 11-9, and after ties at 11-11 and 12-12 the Sabres scored two straight to get to match point before the Muskies' final rally.

Metzler finished with 13 kills and a .550 hitting percentage, recording all of her kills after the first set including 10 in the final three sets. Susana Stevens (Jr.-Las Cruces, N.M.) also added 10 kills and Caitlyn Pernsteiner (Fr.-Arpin, Wis.) came off the bench with nine kills over the last three sets.

Swope finished with 16 digs and Carrasquillo added 13 digs plus 20 assists. Emily Dickmann (Fr.-Grafton, Wis.) als added 22 assists. The Muskies also totaled 12 blocks including Metzler, Stevens and Westerholm all part of four blocks each.

Kaitlyn Merrill added 12 kills for Marian and Tapia posted 39 assists plus three service aces. The two teams were virtually even in a number of statistical categories, including both teams registering 50 kills, though Lakeland had less errors (26 to 31) and a higher hitting percentage (.170 to .125). The Muskies also had slim edges in service aces (10 to 8) and blocks (12 to 10), and their 12 service errors were two less than Marian's 14.

Lakeland is home again for another big match Saturday when it hosts NACC-leading Edgewood College at 4 p.m. at the Woltzen Gym. The Eagles won a battle of undefeated NACC teams Thursday night, defeating Aurora University in five sets.