The series between Lakeland and Aurora is a fairly young one with the Spartans playing their first season in 2018, but it has proven a difficult one from its start for the Muskies. Aurora won the first two meetings in 2018 both in five sets, and the Spartans have won eight more since then, including a 25-18, 25-18, 25-22 win last year in Illinois. Lakeland last hosted Aurora on April 4, 2024 and got the jump by winning the first two sets before the Spartans rallied for a 23-25, 20-25, 25-17, 25-19, 15-10 win. Despite the Spartans dominating the overall tally, the Muskies have frequently been competitive in the matches, winning at least one set in seven of the 10 meetings.

Lakeland last time out: Lost to #17 MSOE March 4
The Muskies have been idle for 10 days since a hard-fought three set loss to the naitonally ranked Raiders. Lakeland was in all three sets down to the end before falling 25-21, 25-23, 25-23 to end the Muskies' three-match winning streak. Lakeland was competitive throughout with the Raiders in a match that included 25 ties and eight lead changes. Jordan Davis-Troller and Jakob Donohue both finished with eight kills each and combined to hit .452 between them. Colin Putchinski also posted six kills, Joe Bieganski totaled five kills plus eight digs and two blocks and Eli Weinrich added five kills and 10 digs. Chase Anderson also dished out 31 assists and libero Luke Schultz finished with 11 digs.

Aurora last time out: Won at Concordia Wisconsin 3-1 last night
The Spartans dropped the opening set but came back to outlast the Falcons in each of the final three sets in a 24-26, 25-22, 25-23, 25-20 win. Concordia was stubborn from start to finish, matching the nationally ranked Spartans at almost every turn, but Josh McLellan finished with 18 kills and Solomon Dail and S.J. Nelson both added 11 kills each. Luke Dwyer added 26 assists and a team-high 11 digs and Ammar Brzovic contributed nine kills plus two service aces. Aurora hit .270 as a team with 54 kills and 20 errors and remained undefeated in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

About the Spartans: Aurora has been on a roll, winning its last nine matches including a big showing at the Cal Lutheran Invite from March 7-10, when the Spartans defeated three nationally ranked teams including the 5th-ranked host school plus No. 9-ranked nationally UC Santa Cruz, both in five sets. Aurora has excelled in close matches with a 4-0 record in five-set matches and three more four-set wins and has moved up to No. 11 in this week's AVCA/NCAA Division III Top 20 Coaches Poll. The Spartans are the defending NACC regular season and tournament champions, and have won at least a share of the regular season title each of the last three years.