Lakeland Sweeps Concordia Chicago to Secure NACC No. 3 Seed

The Lakeland University women’s volleyball team closed its regular season with a dominant three-set victory over Concordia University Chicago on Saturday afternoon.

According to lakelandmuskies.com, the Muskies secured the 25-16, 25-17, 25-19 sweep at the Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium.

This win marks Lakeland’s ninth victory in its last 10 matches. It also extends the team’s winning streak in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play to nine consecutive games. The Muskies finished the regular season with a 19-8 overall record and a 10-2 mark in league play.

The victory places Lakeland in a tie for second place in the NACC with Edgewood University. However, the tiebreaker favors the Eagles, who defeated Lakeland in three sets during their September 24 meeting. As a result, Edgewood takes the No. 2 seed for the upcoming tournament, leaving Lakeland as the No. 3 seed.

Maleigha Kovalaske led the offensive charge for the Muskies. The junior from Ripon, Wisconsin, recorded 21 kills in just three sets. Kovalaske maintained a .417 hitting percentage during the match. This performance was her third time posting at least 20 kills in six matches, following a 19-kill outing against UW-Whitewater earlier in the week.

Lakeland Sweeps Concordia Chicago to Secure NACC No. 3 Seed

Lakeland’s efficiency was evident in the team’s hitting and service stats. The squad hit .261, totaling 44 kills against 15 errors. The team also contributed nine service aces to the win.

Player	Stat Category	Value
Maleigha Kovalaske	Kills	21
Emily R. Hansen	Kills	8
Caitlyn Pernsteiner	Kills	7
Katie Westerholm	Assists	20
Sydney Gay	Assists	16
Ryan Figi	Digs	13
Rylee Esquibel	Digs	10

The setting was shared between freshman Katie Westerholm and junior Sydney Gay, who combined for 36 assists. Westerholm accounted for 20 of those assists, while Gay provided 16. Defensively, Ryan Figi recorded 13 digs, and Rylee Esquibel added 10 digs along with five service aces. Laura Pearson led the blocking effort with four block assists.

Before the match began, Lakeland held a ceremony to recognize four seniors. The honorees included Ryan Figi, Emily J. Hansen, Caitlyn Pernsteiner, and student assistant coach Lourdes Lester. The Muskies appeared focused on the occasion, maintaining control throughout the majority of the match.

Lakeland never trailed in the opening set. In the second set, they faced only a single point deficit at 1-0. While Concordia University Chicago managed to narrow the gap late in the third set, Lakeland responded to close out the match on its second match point.

Concordia Chicago finished the match with a 9-17 overall record and a 5-7 NACC mark. Ava Quevedo led the Cougars with eight kills and five blocks. Rosemary Brenner recorded a match-high 15 digs. Despite recording nine blocks, the Cougars hit just .095, finishing with 24 kills and 15 errors.

The Muskies now transition to the NACC Tournament Quarterfinals. They are scheduled to face the sixth-seeded Wisconsin Lutheran College on Tuesday, November 10, at 7 p.m. This matchup serves as a rematch, as Lakeland previously swept the Warriors in three sets on October 29.

The stakes for Tuesday’s match are high for the Lakeland program. A win would advance the No. 3 seed deeper into the postseason, while a loss would end their championship aspirations. The team must maintain the high hitting percentage and service pressure displayed during Saturday's sweep to win the bracket.

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