WHITEWATER, Wis. – Susana Stevens (Jr.-Las Cruces, N.M.) heated up for 17 kills and the Lakeland University women's volleyball team picked up its first win of the season by defeating Wheaton (Ill.) College in four sets Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Invite.

The Muskies prevailed in four sets over the Thunder, 25-17, 25-17, 16-25, 25-21. Lakeland then fell to Rose-Hulman (Ind.) Institute of Technology in four sets to close out the tourney, dropping a 16-25, 25-14, 25-16, 25-23 decision to finish 1-2 in its opening weekend of play.

Stevens finished with six of her 17 kills in the final set to help close out the win over Wheaton. Katie Metzler (Sr.-Kewaunee, Wis.) also added 11 kills in the match and Brelynn Scoles (Sr.-Kewaskum, Wis.) and Briuna Harper (Jr.-Waxahachie, Texas) finished with seven kills each as Lakeland hit .239 as a team with 53 kills and 21 errors in the match.

The Muskies held the lead most of the first two sets and appeared to have a chance to close the match out in three sets after three straight points capped by a kill by Caitlyn Pernsteiner (Fr.-Arpin, Wis.) cut Wheaton's lead to 17-16. Lakeland would not score again, though, as the Thunder (1-2 overall) closed the set out with the final eight points.

The Muskies then fell behind 14-11 in the fourth set before rallying back. Stevens had four kills down the stretch and Harper closed it out with an ace on match point.

Lakeland also started off well against Rose-Hulman, cruising through the first set with four kills from Pernsteiner and four more from Kelly Swope (Sr.-Heyworth, Ill.). The Engineers would respond by controlling the next two sets, and the Muskies then saw an early 5-0 lead dissipate in the fourth set. The teams eventually went back-and-forth at the end of the set with eight ties, but Rose-Hulman took the lead for good with three straight points late and closed it out on the second match point.

Stevens totaled 14 kills against the Engineers, Maeve Sullivan (Sr.-Chicago, Ill.) finished with 22 digs and Scoles added 17 digs. Emily Dickmann (Fr.-Grafton, Wis.) also finished with 17 assists and Swope was named to the all-tournament team, finishing with 26 kills, 17 digs and three service aces over the two days.

Lakeland now gets ready for its home opener when it hosts a quadrangular on Wednesday with St. Norbert College, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point. The Muskies will host UW-Stevens Point at 5:30 p.m. and UW-Oshkosh at 7:30 p.m., with St. Norbert trading opponents and taking on Oshkosh at 5:30 and Stevens Point at 7:30.