A regular on the Muskies' schedule in their first seven years as a varsity program, Lakeland and Mount St. Joseph meet for the first time in five seasons, since the Lions won a three-set decision Jan. 17, 2020, in Wittenberg, Ohio, in the Jim Coleman Classic hosted by Wittenberg University. The Muskies' last win over Mount St. Joseph was a 3-1 victory a year before that, also in the Jim Coleman Classic. The teams have met twice before at Lakeland, the last time coming Feb. 6, 2015, when Mount St. Joseph won in four sets, one of seven four-set matches between the two in their nine meetings. The schools were conference mates for four years, in the early stages of both varsity programs, first in the Continental Volleyball Conference in 2014 and then in the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League in 2015-17, of which MSJ is still a member.

Lakeland last time out: Lost to #8 Cal Lutheran 3-0 Friday
The Muskies took their shot at the defending national champions but were defeated 25-19, 25-20, 25-14 on Valentine's Day night. Lakeland never led in the match, though after a slow start the Muskies were able to slow down the 8th-ranked Kingsmen and came from seven points down to threaten Cal Lutheran late in the second set. Lakeland finished with 23 kills to 21 errors (.023 hitting percentage) and also posted 6.5 team blocks, including Jordan Davis-Troller finishing with four block assists and Chase Anderson adding three block assists. Levi Everts and Ben Busalacchi led the team with seven kills each and Everts and Eli Weinrich added eight digs each as the Muskies lost to a nationally ranked team for the third time this season.

Mount St. Joseph last time out: Lost to Augustana (Ill.) 3-0, lost at Marian 3-0 yesterday
The Lions had a tough day in Fond du Lac yesterday at a triangular hosted by Marian, first falling to Augustana 25-18, 25-14, 25-18 before going down to the host Sabres in straight sets, 25-20, 25-20, 25-20. Mount St. Joseph hit at a negative clip (-.014) in the first match against the Vikings, and though the Lions hit a much better .193 against Marian, the Sabres were even better with a sterling .325 mark. Carson Reed led MSJ with six kills against Augustana, while Ryan Bollhauer totaled 14 kills and Reed added 11 against Marian.

About the Lions: Mount St. Joseph comes up from Cincinnati, Ohio, and enter with a 4-7 record. The Lions have posted two of their wins over NAIA member Midway (Ky.), and they have one common opponent with Lakeland, having swept a Trine (Ind.) team that the Muskies hosted last month. Mount St. Joseph finished 6-15 overall last year and 2-7 in the MCVL, and the program has been around the NCAA Division III varsity level slightly longer than Lakeland's, with the Lions' first season coming in 2010.

Record watch: Ben Busalacchi remains on the doorstep of another Muskies record, entering Sunday still with 130 career service aces, one from tying and two from passing Cam Ekum (2018-22) and his varsity record of 131 aces. Busalacchi already gobbled up the program's career record for kills earlier this season, and he is closing in on becoming the first player in program history with 1,000 career kills, entering today with 940 kills.