RIVER FOREST, Ill. – Susana Stevens (Sr.-Las Cruces, N.M.) became the ninth player in Lakeland University women's volleyball history to reach 1,000 career kills and the Muskies stayed undefeated in conference play with a four-set win at Dominican University Thursday night at the Igini Sports Forum.

The Muskies defeated the Stars 25-12, 25-22, 20-25, 25-21 to improve to 3-0 in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play. Lakeland (5-13 overall) is one of three teams at 3-0 in league matches early in the season and will face another when it travels to take on Aurora University Saturday afternoon.

Stevens entered the night with 988 career kills and reached 1,000 with her 12th kill of the match early in the third set. She is the first Muskie to reach the milestone since Shannon Bishop, who hit 1,000 in 2019 and finished her career fourth on Lakeland's all-time list with 1,282 kills from 2016-19.

Stevens finished with five more kills on the night to wind up with a match-high 17 kills, her 12th match this season with at least 10 kills. Stevens led a solid attack that finished with 50 kills and just 13 errors and a .245 hitting percentage, and included more big performances.

Caitlyn Pernsteiner (Arpin, Wis.) also finished with 14 kills, tying her collegiate career high, and the sophomore hit .448 on the night with just one error in 29 attacks. Rylee Esquibel (Fr.-Devine, Texas) also added nine kills with three errors in 33 swings, and also led Lakeland with four service aces.

Sydney Gay (Fr.-Rice Lake, Wis.) finished with 33 assists from her setter position, added 10 digs and also had a strong night blocking at the net with a team-high six block assists.

Ryan Figi (So.-Hartland, Wis.) and Katelyn Kitsembel (Jr.-Lake Mills, Wis.) also shared team honors with 15 digs each and Esquibel finished with 13 digs.

Mia Febles paced Dominican (6-7 overall, 0-3 NACC) with 16 kills and Ellery Shea added 11 kills. The Stars hit .135 as a team with 42 kills and 21 attack errors.