CHICAGO, Ill. – The Lakeland University men's volleyball team played from behind almost the entire night and lost to Illinois Institute of Technology in three sets Wednesday night in the team's second-to-last match of the season.

The Scarlet Hawks were in charge in a 25-16, 25-17, 25-17 victory in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match. Lakeland dropped to 6-17 overall and 1-10 in the NACC with one final match left Saturday at home against St. Norbert College.

Illinois Tech (11-15 overall, 6-5 NACC) got off to a blistering start, hitting .607 in the first set with 19 kills and two errors in 28 attacks. The Scarlet Hawks would finish the match hitting .446 with 42 kills and nine errors in 74 swings.

The Muskies hit a strong .333 in the first set (10 kills, two errors) but never led, and only led once in the match, with a 1-0 lead at the start of the second set. Lakeland was in its best position late in a set in the second, trailing just 18-15 after a kill by Colin Kenney (Jr.-Shorewood, Wis.) before IIT finished the set on a 7-2 run.

Ben Busalacchi (Jr.-Muskego, Wis.) led Lakeland with 10 kills and added two blocks. Hunter Henson (Fr.-Menomonee Falls, Wis.) also added five kills and Kenney finished with four kills. Eli Weinrich (Fr.-Mequon, Wis.) paced the team with five digs and Chase Anderson (Fr.-Hartford, Wis.) finished with 16 assists.

Riley Laite led Illinois Tech with 12 kills and a .647 hitting percentage. Grant Couper added nine kills and Jackson Van Engen finished with eight kills. Jack Bovone posted a match-high 13 digs and Elijah Johnson finished with 23 assists.

Lakeland wraps up its season and will honor its seniors Saturday against St. Norbert at 1 p.m. at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.