STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Lakeland University women's volleyball team came up empty in a pair of matches in a one-day visit to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointer Invitational Saturday.

The Muskies dropped a tough four-set match against Bethel (Minn.) University 19-25, 25-11, 25-22, 25-20 to open the day. Lakeland then saw little go right in a 25-13, 25-16, 25-20 loss to UW-River Falls.

Samya Hughes (Fr.-Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) had another big day hitting with 30 kills over the two matches. The young Muskies again struggled with consistency though in dropping to 5-9 overall this season against another tough non-conference schedule.

The Muskies had opportunities available in the first match against Bethel, winning the opening set and then letting a later third-set lead slip away. Lakeland was just three points away from a 2-1 lead in the match when it held a 22-20 lead, but the Royals (5-6 overall) scored the final five points of the set.

The Muskies also led 12-6 as they neared the midpoint of the fourth set. Bethel would take over, though, going on an 11-2 run to go ahead 17-1. Lakeland never led again, getting no closer than one point on a number of occasions, the last time at 19-18.

Hughes finished with 18 kills against Bethel and Rylee Esquibel (So.-Devine, Texas) also posted 14 kills plus a team-high 18 digs. Sydney Gay (So.-Rice Lake, Wis.) passed out 40 assists and Maleigha Kovalaske (So.-Ripon, Wis.) added 16 digs.

Lakeland struggled against UW-River Falls, hitting just .051 as a team with 28 kills and 23 errors. The Muskies also surrendered a season-high 13 service aces to the Falcons (6-8 overall).

Hughes finished with 12 kills but no other Muskie finished with more than Kenzie Jackson (Fr.-Mansfield, Texas) with four kills. Ryan Figi (Jr.-Hartland, Wis.) also added 13 digs.

Lakeland now gets ready for its Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener this coming Thursday against defending NACC champion Edgewood University at 7 p.m. at the Woltzen Gymnasium.