PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Samya Hughes (Fr.-Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) drove home 19 kills and the Lakeland University women's volleyball team dominated in all areas in swiftly defeating Marian University in three sets Thursday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies posted their best hitting percentage in more than 10 years and rolled past the Sabres 25-12, 25-8, 25-23. Lakeland earned its first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win of the season and improved to 7-13 overall and 1-3 in conference.

The Muskies hit .412 for the match with 43 kills and eight errors in an exceptionally efficient performance. Lakeland posted its best attacking percentage since hitting .451 (44 kills, seven errors in 82 attacks) against Alverno College Oct. 3, 2015.

Hughes had one of her best hitting nights yet of her already prolific freshman season. The NACC leader in kills and kills per set posted 19 kills with three errors in 31 swings for a season-best .452 hitting percentage. Hughes finished with at least six kills in all three sets, including going 6-for-6 on attacks as Lakeland won the first set easily.

The Muskies hit .680 in the first set (18 kills, one error) and were almost as good hitting and even more dominant overall in the second set. Lakeland jumped out to a 7-0 before the Sabres (1-18 overall, 0-4 NACC) got on the board and was never threatened in quickly taking a 2-0 lead in the match.

Marian battled in the third set and came back from four points down on a number of occasions to eventually take a 20-19 lead after four straight points. A block by Sydney Gay (So.-Rice Lake, Wis.) and Kenzie Jackson (Fr.-Mansfield, Texas) resulted in a side out to knot the score at 20-20, and Emily Hansen served for four straight points, including a service ace to make it 23-20. Gay and Faith Baker (So.-Verona, Ill.) combined for a block to get to match point, and the Muskies finally closed it out on their fourth match point with a kill by Hughes.

Gay finished with 32 assists and added four blocks (one solo, three assisted) and three service aces as Lakeland also posted an 8-2 advantage over Marian in blocks and an 8-0 advantage in aces. Caitlyn Pernsteiner (Jr.-Arpin, Wis.) also added six kills without an error in nine attacks and Baker added five kills in eight attacks.

Katelyn Kitsembel (Sr.-Lake Mills, Wis.) also posted a team-high 11 digs. The Muskies continued their mastery of the series with the Sabres, winning their 10th straight and 33rd of the last 33 meetings with their rivals from Fond du Lac.

Harley Bartels led Marian with 10 kills and Raegan Montello added eight digs. The Sabres hit .110 for the night with 26 kills and 16 errors.

Lakeland goes on the road Saturday to face Rockford University at noon in Rockford, Ill.