The series between the Muskies and Cougars began in 2019, Concordia's first season of men's volleyball. Lakeland won the first two meetings but CUC has won the last four, including the last two in five sets. Concordia came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Muskies 24-26, 15-25, 26-24, 25-23, 16-14 in the last meeting Feb. 24, 2024 in River Forest, Ill., coming back after Lakeland led 21-18 in the third set. The Cougars also won the teams' last matchup at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium, taking a 23-25, 25-16, 22-25, 25-22, 20-18 win in 2023. Lakeland won the first two meetings between the teams, both in the 2019 season, first topping Concordia in three sets Feb. 8, 2019 at home and then winning in three sets at CUC March 23, 2019.

Lakeland last time out: Lost at Edgewood 3-1 Tuesday
The Muskies continued a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference season trend of playing close but coming up short, falling to the Eagles 23-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-20. Lakeland won at least one set for the seventh time in nine conference matches. The Muskies also won the first set for the fourth time in nine NACC duels, but lost in four for the sixth time in conference play and the seventh time this season. Lakeland won the first set and took a 6-2 lead early in the second set, but Edgewood began to take over from there and won the final three sets. Ben Busalacchi finished with 14 kills and Levi Everts added 10 kills. Jakob Donohue also posted eight kills in 11 attacks from his middle position and added four block assists, Everts also added four blocks (three solo, one assisted) and Chase Anderson finished with 39 assists.

Concordia last time out: Won at Illinois Tech 3-1 Tuesday
The Cougars earned a big road win earlier this week, coming back from a set down to defeat the Scarlet Hawks 18-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21. After a slow start, CUC came out on top of three close sets, including winning the third set after trailing 22-21 late. Tyler Holubek finished with 16 kills, Jackson Stella totaled 12 kills and Alexander Ford added 11 kills plus 10 blocks (two solo, eight assisted). Elijah Mosher also posted 46 assists, five kills and led the team with 16 digs.

About the Cougars: Concordia Chicago is in the thick of the race for a spot in the NACC Tournament, entering Saturday as one of five teams tied for fifth in the conference at 4-5 and one of six teams with four wins. The Cougars come in hot having won four straight matches in a season that has been marked by competitive matches. CUC has played five five-set matches this season plus eight four-set matches, with a 2-3 record in five-setters and a 3-5 mark in four sets.

Senior Day: Today is the Muskies' final home date of the season and the final match at home for four seniors. Ben Busalacchi, Levi Everts, Colin Kenney and Drake Schliehs are seniors on this year's team, with Busalacchi and Kenney five-year members of the team, Everts a four-year member of the squad and Schleihs in his second year with the Muskies. Busalacchi holds the school varsity records for kills (1,047) and service aces (142) and is tied for third in digs (561), fifth in blocks (127) and tied for fifth in matches played (99). Kenney is fourth in career aces (78), sixth in blocks (103)  and ninth in matches played (87). Everts also is eighth in aces (56) and 11th in career digs (395). Schleihs transferred to Lakeland for his final two years of play and has appeared in 10 matches and a total of 17 sets with 11 digs in his career.