KENOSHA, Wis. – The Lakeland University men's volleyball team played respectably but Cal Lutheran University had too much firepower in sweeping the Muskies in three sets Saturday evening in a non-conference match hosted by Carthage College.

The Kingsmen prevailed 25-15, 25-18, 25-23 in Lakeland's final non-conference match of the season. Lakeland dropped to 5-10 overall and is 0-3 against teams ranked in the top 10 nationally in NCAA Division III this season.

The Muskies posted one of their better hitting percentages of the season, attacking at a .222 rate with 35 kills and 17 errors. Cal Lutheran-ranked No. 4 in the latest AVCA/NCAA Division III Top 20 Coaches Poll-was even better, with 38 kills and 10 errors for a .333 hitting percentage.

Lakeland was competitive early in all three sets, with the teams combining for 17 ties and nine lead changes. The closest set was the final one, with 10 ties and three lead changes and neither team leading by more than three points, the last time when Cal Lutheran (14-3 overall) held a 22-19 lead late. The Muskies were still as close as one point at 24-23 after a kill by Jordan Davis-Troller (Sr.-Cottage Grove, Wis.), but the Kingsmen finally closed it out on their second match point.

Colin Putchinski (Fr.-Waukesha, Wis.) finished with 10 kills to lead Lakeland, Sage Xiong (So.-Erie, Colo.) posted seven kills and Davis-Troller added six kills plus three blocks. Chase Anderson (Sr.-Hartford, Wis.) totaled 30 assists and Luke Schultz (Fr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) and Eli Weinrich (Sr.-Mequon, Wis.) led the team with nine digs apiece.

Connor Crawford and Brendan Horn both finished with eight kills each for Cal Lutheran, and Horn also added three of CLU's nine service aces.

The Muskies now turn their attention to the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference schedule for the rest of the season, starting with a trip to face Edgewood University Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in Madison.