Concordia University Chicago Cougars (1-5 overall)
at Lakeland University Muskies (4-6 overall)
Friday, Feb. 17, 2023Â Â 6 p.m.
Woltzen Gymnasium
Lakeland/CUC Match Notes   PDF
The Lakeland University men's volleyball team opens its Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference slate hosting Concordia University Chicago Friday night at 6 p.m.
Broadcast Information:
Live video and live statistics:Â
http://www.lakelandmuskies.com/muskieslive
Series history:Â 5th meeting, series tied 2-2
This series between the Muskies and Cougars began in 2019, Concordia's first season of men's volleyball. Lakeland won the first two meetings but CUC has won the last two, including a 25-19, 25-18, 25-11 victory just under a year ago on Feb. 18, 2022 in River Forest, Ill. The Cougars also won the last meeting at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium with a three-set sweep March 7, 2020. The Muskies won the first two meetings between the teams, both in the 2019 season, first topping Concordia in three sets Feb. 8, 2019 at home and then winning in three sets at CUC March 23, 2019.
Lakeland last time out: Lost to #10 UC Santa Cruz 3-1; Won at Wisconsin Lutheran 3-0 Feb. 5
The Muskies have been idle for 12 days, since participating in a triangular hosted by Wisconsin Lutheran a week ago this past Sunday. Lakeland challenged the nationally ranked Banana Slugs from California in the opener before falling 25-17, 21-25, 25-22, 25-13, but bounced back to defeat the hosts 25-21, 25-23, 25-20 in a non-conference match between the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference foes.
Ben Busalacchi finished with 23 kills on the day, including 13 kills against WLC. He also added five aces in the second match, part of the Muskies' 17 service aces against the Warriors that were the second-most in a match in Lakeland's varsity history.
Eli Weinrich also finished with seven kills and four aces in the second match, while
Levi Everts finished with nine kills against Santa Cruz.
Busalacchi enters the night leading the NACC in overall kills with 109 and service aces with 21. He also is fourth in the conferences in aces per set (0.57) and sixth in kills/set (2.95).
Concordia last time out: Lost at Baldwin Wallace (Ohio) 3-2; Lost to Medaille (N.Y.) 3-2 Feb. 4
The Cougars also have been off for a long spell, almost two weeks since their last competition in Berea, Ohio. Concordia lost twice in five sets, first falling to host Baldwin Wallace 25-23, 20-25, 25-23, 16-25, 15-13, and then dropping another five-setter to Medaille, winning the first two sets before fallling 13-25, 16-25, 25-19, 25-19, 15-10. Luke Vozenilek piled up 21 kills plus 13 digs and six blocks in the first match, while Tyler Holubek added 12 kills against the Yellow Jackets and then erupted for 25 kills in the second match.
About the Cougars: Concordia Chicago enters with a 1-5 record that could easily be much better. CUC already has lost three five-set matches, and also won a set in a fourth match, its season opener against Adrian (Mich.) that also included a 31-29 first set loss. The Cougars finished 7-19 overall last year and posted a 6-6 record in the NACC, finishing seventh of 13 teams in the conference.
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