PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Aurora University received 13 kills from Kate Poellmann and the Lakeland University women's volleyball team was defeated in three sets Saturday on Homecoming at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Spartans prevailed 25-23, 25-19, 25-21, staying undefeated in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference at 4-0 (10-8 overall). The Muskies were unable to build on the momentum of a win two nights earlier and dropped to 6-10 overall and 1-3 in conference.

The Muskies fell into a sizeable hole early in all three sets and spent almost the entire match playing from behind. Lakeland led just twice in the match, and Aurora had the answer every time the hosts started to make a run in all three sets.

The Muskies fell behind 5-0 at the start of the match before rallying for a brief 10-9 lead. Lakeland would later come back to tie the set at 13-13 and again 14-14 after a pair of kills by Susana Stevens (Jr.-Las Cruces, N.M.), but the Spartans responded with a 6-2 run for a 20-16 lead. Aurora later closed it out finally on their fourth set point, after the Muskies had cut a 24-20 deficit down to one late.

The Spartans jumped to an 8-1 lead in the second set and were never seriously threatened, and then also scored the first five points of the third set. Lakeland trailed by as much as six before creeping back in, finally tying at 16-16 on a kill by Brelynn Scoles (Sr.-Kewaskum, Wis.) and taking the lead after a service ace by Katelyn Kitsembel (So.-Lake Mills, Wis.).

Aurora answered soon after with three straight points, including kills by Poellmann to tie at 18-18 and another to put the Spartans ahead for good. The Muskies were as close as a point yet at 22-21 after a Stevens kill, but Aurora closed with the final three points, including a service ace by Katelyn Ruse on match point.

Poellmann and Dani Lauer provided much of the difference in the match for Aurora, with Poellmann posting 13 kills in 29 attacks at a .345 hitting percentage and Lauer adding nine kills with two errors in 20 swings (.350 hitting percentage). The Spartans hit .157 as a team with 38 kills and 20 errors but also added nine service aces.

Stevens led the Muskies with 10 kills and Briuna Harper (Jr.-Waxahachie, Texas) added six kills, but Lakeland hit just .102 with 30 kills and 19 errors. Roseily Carrasquillo (Jr.-Yabucoa, Puerto Rico) finished with 14 assists and Maeve Sullivan (Sr.-Chicago, Ill.) added 15 digs. Katie Metzler (Sr.-Kewaunee, Wis.) also added five kills and five blocks (one solo, four assisted).

Lakeland is home again for its next match Thursday when it hosts Milwaukee School of Engineering at 7 p.m.