PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Lakeland University picked up its play in the final two sets after a slow start but Cardinal Stritch University surged late to close out a four-set win Monday night in a non-conference men's volleyball match at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Wolves finished the fourth set strong to capture a 25-16, 25-22, 20-25, 25-21 victory. Lakeland lost at home for the second time in four days while Stritch improved to 3-3 on the season.

The Muskies had a sharp contrast in their attack between the first two sets and the final two. Lakeland hit .054 over the first two sets with 18 kills and 15 errors, but warmed up to hit .333 over the third and fourth sets, finishing at .191 for the match with 44 kills and 23 errors in 110 attacks.

Cardinal Stritch was the more consistent team attacking team over the course of the match, hitting .270 with 38 kills and 14 errors. Kyle Pietrzak hammered 13 kills and Noah Clements added nine kills, and the Wolves also added nine service aces.

Stritch grabbed hold of the first set with an 8-1 run early and pulled away midway through the second set, reaching set point at 24-18 before the Muskies scored four straight points to make it interesting at the end.

The Wolves would wrap up the second and appeared on their way to a sweep when they led 12-8 near the mid-point of the third set. Lakeland would rally, though, including six straight points late in the set, and Eli Weinrich (Fr.-Mequon, Wis.) would close the set with a kill from the left side to push the match to a fourth set.

The teams were even for most of the fourth with 15 ties, the last time coming at 19-19 after a Stritch attack error, but the Wolves would score the next two points and would never trail again. Lakeland was within one at 22-21 after another Weinrich kill, but a Muskies service error and a pair of attack errors closed out the match.

Ben Busalacchi (Jr.-Muskego, Wis.) finished with 18 kills, Hunter Henson (Fr.-Menomonee Falls, Wis.) posted nine kills and Weinrich added six kills plus six digs after coming off the bench late in the second set. Chase Anderson (Fr.-Hartford, Wis.) also posted team highs with 25 assists and eight digs.

The Muskies are back in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play Saturday when they host Milwaukee School of Engineering at noon.