The Muskies and Warriors have met frequently since Wisconsin Lutheran's first year with a varsity program in 2021. Lakeland has won all seven previous meetings, but the most recent one was the closest. The Muskies edged WLC in five sets March 15 of last year in Milwaukee, coming back from 2-1 down to prevail 25-22, 14-25, 26-28, 25-21, 15-6. Lakeland won twice at Lutheran last season, including a three-set sweep Feb. 5, 2023. The Muskies also won the most recent matchup at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium, posting a 25-14, 25-14, 25-9 victory March 9, 2022.

Lakeland last time out: Lost at Illinois Tech 3-1 Tuesday
The Muskies struggled on the road in Chicago, falling to the Scarlet Hawks 11-25, 25-21, 17-25, 18-25. Lakeland won the second set to even the match at 1-1 but never led in the final two sets in dropping its second straight Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match on the road. Eli Weinrich led the Muskies with nine kills and eight digs and Ben Busalacchi and Colin Kenney added eight kills each. Lakeland was able to do little to slow down the Illinois Tech attack, though, as the host Scarlet Hawks hit .286 for the match and also posted 10 service aces.

The Muskies lost their second straight match in the Chicago area, also falling at Concordia Chicago in five sets last Saturday. Lakeland also went four or five sets for the ninth time in 12 matches, but dropped to 1-8 in those matches, including 0-4 in four-set tilts.

Wisconsin Lutheran last time out: Won at Maranatha Baptist 3-1 Tuesday
The Warriors picked up their second win of the season, defeating the Sabercats 25-14, 25-27, 25-19, 25-13 on the road in Watertown. Sean Kane finished with 19 kills and Connor Haeuser and Chris Mann added nine kills each. Trevor Salutric also piled up 20 digs and Jay Thammavongsa added 44 assists, eight digs and a team-high three service aces. WLC won for the second time this season and the second time in four matches, having defeated Olivet (Mich.) in four sets on Feb. 17 for the team's first win this year.

Wisconsin Lutheran has struggled since adding men's volleyball, including an abbreviated first season during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. The Warriors did pick up their first four wins last season and this season took Edgewood to four sets in one of their NACC losses.

Busalacchi among D-III leaders: Lakeland senior Ben Busalacchi is among the NCAA Division III leaders in kills and attack attempts this season, including ranking 10th in Division III in attacks per set with 9.28. He also is 14th in kills/set with 4.00 and is tied for 13th nationally in total kills with 200. Busalacchi also recently went over 700 kills for his career and now has 712 career kills, fourth-most in program history and just seven kills behind Tim Robbins (2014-17) in third with 719 kills. Busalacchi also remains No. 2 in service aces with 106, putting him 25 aces short of the career record of 131 set by Cameron Ekum (2018-22). The senior also has moved into the all-time top 10 in career digs at Lakeland with 347 digs. Next up at No. 9 in all-time digs is Dakota Hunter (396 from 2016-19).