CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa –
Samya Hughes (
So.-Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.),
Maleigha Kovalaske (
Jr.-Ripon, Wis.) and
Emily R. Hansen (
Jr.-Mayville, Wis.) combined for 37 kills and the Lakeland University women's volleyball team picked up another solid win this season with a four-set victory over Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) College to wrap up play at the Coe College Mabel Lee Invite.
The Muskies earned close wins in three different sets in a 25-23, 26-24, 18-25, 25-23 victory over the Gusties. Lakeland also added a 25-19, 25-17, 31-29 win over Cornell (Iowa) College earlier in the day, and left the two-day tourney with a 3-1 mark record in play for the weekend and a 9-5 mark overall for the season.
The Muskies defeated a Gustavus (6-4 overall) team that came into the weekend receiving votes and just outside the AVCA/NCAA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll. A frequent opponent in tournaments over the past 10 years, Lakeland defeated the Gusties for the first time in eight meetings and posted its first win in the series since 2013.
The Muskies won a trio of sets by the minimum of two points, including big rallies in the first two sets. Lakeland trailed 10-2 to start off the match in the first set, but answered with an 8-3 run to get back within striking distance and after four straight points to take a 21-19 lead never trailed again in the opener.
The second set included 13 ties and six lead changes, but the Muskies trailed 17-14 late before coming back with four straight points, and finished it out at 26-24 with a solo block from
Caitlyn Pernsteiner (
Sr.-Arpin, Wis.). Gustavus came back to win the third set, finishing on a 7-1 run after Lakeland was within a point late, but the Muskies raced out to a 17-5 lead in the fourth set and held on after the Gusties got as close as one point late.
Hughes finished with 15 kills, Kovalaske totaled 12 kills and Hansen added 10 kills in 23 attacks for a .348 hitting percentage.
Katie Westerholm (
Fr.-Prior Lake, Minn.) posted 23 assists and 11 digs,
Rylee Esquibel (
Jr.-Devine, Texas) led the team with 15 digs and
Ryan Figi (
Sr.-Hartland, Wis.) added 12 digs.
The Muskies defeated Cornell (2-7 overall) in a match that included a combined 29 ties and 16 lead changes. Lakeland pulled away late in the first and second sets and then pulled out its longest set of the season, fending off five set points to finally close it out on a kill by Kovalaske followed by a Rams attack error to end it.
Kovalaske finished with a team highs of 12 kills and 12 digs, and Hughes added nine kills. Westerholm finished with 16 assists plus five service aces and
Laura Pearson (
Jr.-San Diego, Calif.) piled up six blocks (three solo, three assisted).
Lakeland now gets ready for its Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener, and the Muskies jump right in against Edgewood University, the three-time defending conference regular season and tournament champions. Game time in Madison on Thursday will be 7 p.m.
