PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Lakeland University men's volleyball team received a career-high 23 kills from Ben Busalacchi (Jr.-Muskego, Wis.) but Concordia University Chicago got in the last word in defeating the Muskies in five sets Friday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

Busalacchi tied for the fourth-most kills in a match in Lakeland's varsity program history, but the Cougars rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the match to win the fourth set and then prevail in a lengthy fifth set. Concordia won the match 23-25, 25-16, 22-25, 25-22, 20-18 in both teams' Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener.

Busalacchi broke his previous career high of 21 kills and joined Matt Stolz (vs. Cardinal Stritch, Feb. 8, 2017) and Nate Vanderwaal (vs. Adrian, Feb. 1, 2020) as Muskies to hammer home 23 kills in a match. Vanderwaal is the only player in the program's varsity history to finish with more kills, including a school single-match record 29 on two occasions as well as 24 kills against Marian University March 11, 2020.

Lakeland (4-7 overall, 0-1 NACC) had a good night on the attack, hitting .265 with 52 kills and 21 errors in 117 swings. The Muskies finished well ahead of Concordia's .174 mark that included 38 kills and 19 errors, but also committed 39 service errors to CUC's 23 errors on serve.

The teams were tied 43 times in the match and traded the lead 16 times, including 11 ties and four lead changes in the final set. The Cougars (2-5 overall, 1-0 NACC) raced out to an early 7-3 lead in the fifth but Lakeland scored five of the next six points to tie it at 8-8.  The Muskies took their first lead of the set at 11-10, but Concordia battled back to match point at 14-12, and then neither team could shake the other.

CUC had the first three match points, but Lakeland would get its first at 16-15 after Busalacchi's 23rd kill. The Muskies would also get chances at 17-16 and 18-17, but the Cougars would score the final three points of the match, including a kill by Tyler Holubek and a pair of blocks, the last coming from Colby Campbell and Jose Padron to clinch it.

Busalacchi combined with Colin Kenney (Jr.-Shorewood, Wis.) and Hunter Henson (Fr.-Menomonee Falls, Wis.) to provide almost all of Lakeland's offense. Kenney also finished with 13 kills and Henson added 12 kills.

Busalacchi also posted 10 digs for a double-double plus four service aces. Gavin Kenney (Fr.-Shorewood, Wis.) led the Muskies with 11 digs and Chase Anderson (Fr.-Hartford, Wis.) finished with 41 assists.

Luke Vozenilek led Concordia with 14 kills and nine digs and Holubek added nine kills plus five digs and three blocks (two solo, one assisted).

Lakeland is back on the court Monday night when it hosts Cardinal Stritch University for a non-conference match at 7 p.m.