PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Lakeland University women's volleyball team started fast and stayed a step ahead almost the entire way in a three-set sweep of Wisconsin Lutheran College Thursday night at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.
The Muskies defeated the Warriors 25-16, 25-20, 25-18 to extend their winning streak to seven matches. Lakeland improved to 17-7 overall and 8-2 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, clinching a spot in the eight-team NACC Tournament.
The Muskies had a pedestrian night on the attack but still did plenty to keep the Warriors (11-13 overall, 5-4 NACC) at arm's length. Lakeland posted solid advantages in service aces (7 to WLC's 1) and blocks (7-3) and outlasted Lutheran on a number of longer points over the final two sets to earn the win.
Lakeland scored the first three points of the match and never trailed in pulling away to win the opening set. The teams then combined for 17 ties and 11 lead changes over the final two sets, but the Muskies pulled away late in both. That included a big nine-point run late in the third set, turning a 16-14 deficit into a 23-16 lead and getting to the doorstep of victory before
Caitlyn Pernsteiner (
Sr.-Arpin, Wis.) closed it out with a kill on the second match point.
Maleigha Kovalaske (
Jr.-Ripon, Wis.) paced Lakeland with team highs of nine kills and 10 digs.
Emily R. Hansen (
Jr.-Mayville, Wis.) and
Faith Baker (
Jr.-Verona, Ill.) both added six kills each and Hansen led the team with four blocks (one solo, three assisted).
Sydney Gay (
Jr.-Rice Lake, Wis.) finished with 16 assists and
Emily J. Hansen (
Sr.-Kaukauna, Wis.) added a match-high three service aces.
Keiveana Petersons led Wisconsin Lutheran with seven kills and Elizabeth Ehlke finished with nine digs. The Warriors hit .000 for the match with 29 kills and 29 errors.
The Muskies are on the road Saturday to face Benedictine University for a noon start in Lisle, Ill.
