PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Lakeland University men's volleyball team made some progress but lost its second straight match to a nationally ranked team from California, falling to California Lutheran University in three sets Friday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Muskies were defeated in a sweep, 25-19, 25-20, 25-14, falling to the defending NCAA Division III national champions. Lakeland dropped to 4-6 overall this season, including 0-3 against ranked teams, with the most recent loss coming to the team ranked No. 8 in the most recent AVCA NCAA Division III Top 20 Coaches Poll.

The Muskies played for the first time in a week, since a loss to then No. 17 (now No. 15) UC Santa Cruz at home. Lakeland was more competitive against Cal Lutheran, nearly rallying back to take the second set at the wire before the Kingsmen (11-2 overall) took over again in the final set.

The Muskies never led in the match and were down 14-4 in the first set before settling in. Lakeland closed to within 22-18 late in the first set before Cal Lutheran closed it out, finishing a set in which the guests hit at a .423 rate with 13 kills and just two errors.

The Muskies hung around in the second set and were able to slow down the Kingsmen attack considerably. Cal Lutheran hit .095 in the second set with 12 kills and eight errors, and Lakeland made a run late in the set. A 21-14 deficit was narrowed to 22-19 before the Kingsmen scored three of the final four points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Cal Lutheran largely controlled the third set, on the strength of a 5-0 run out of the gates. The Kingsmen slowly built the lead from there and then put together a 6-0 run late to all but put the match away.

Levi Everts (Sr.-Hartford, Wis.) finished with seven kills and eight digs to lead Lakeland. Ben Busalacchi (Sr.-Muskego, Wis.) also totaled seven kills and seven digs and Eli Weinrich (Jr.-Mequon, Wis.) added eight digs from the libero spot. Jordan Davis-Troller (Jr.-Cottage Grove, Wis.) also finished with four block assists as the Muskies nearly matched the much-taller Cal Lutheran block with six blocks to the Kingsmen's nine.

Jordan Cooper led Cal Lutheran with 12 kills plus three service aces and Connor Crawford added nine kills. Braden Gonzales finished with a match-high 12 digs and Borys Horiuk totaled four kills plus five blocks (two solo, three assisted). The Kingsmen finished hitting .274 with 40 kills and 14 errors.

Lakeland is home again Sunday when it hosts Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) University at 2 p.m. at the Woltzen Gymnasium.