Box Score

PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Lakeland had three players record double-digit kill totals Saturday and defeated Augustana in four sets Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium. The Vikings dropped to 6-12 on the year, while the Muskies improved to 6-11.
 
The hosts rallied to win the first game 25-23. Augustana took a 2-1 lead on a kill by freshman Jason Szara (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.) and with the exception of ties at six and seven-all, led until consecutive Cameron Ekum kills put Lakeland on top 22-21. Kills by freshman Justin Murphy (Glenbard East HS, Lombard, Ill.) forged ties at 22 and 23-all, but Jarrod Verhamme and Ekum had back-to-back kills to close out the set in favor of the Muskies.
 
The Vikings picked up their win in game two. Trailing 8-4, they rattled off seven straight points, six with freshman Brett Kliegl (Neuqua Valley HS, Bolingbrook, Ill.) serving. They maintained the advantage the rest of the way. It reached as many as five points (17-12) before Lakeland trimmed it to one (20-19) on a Dakota Hunter service ace. A kill by freshman Andrew Housholder (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville, Ill.) turned the momentum back in Augustana's favor and the Vikings took five of the last seven points, with a Dylan Baum (Warrensburg-Latham HS, Decatur, Ill.) kill accounting for set point in a 25-21 win.
 
The Muskies bounced back from an early deficit in game three to take a 16-15 lead on a Addison Mertler ace. Augustana achieved ties at 20, 21 and 22-all, but Lakeland won three of the last four points, getting set point on a Hunter kill.
 
Game four was back-and-forth, with the Muskies eventually prevailing 27-25. Lakeland jumped on top 4-1 before the visitors came back to lead by as many as six on kills by Baum (15-9) and Szara (16-10). The Muskies tied it at 23 and 24-all, fought off an Viking set point with a kill by Jacob Deener and finished off the match with another Deener kill and one by Ekum.
 
Sazara and Baum led Augustana's attack with 17 and 11 kills, respectively. Freshman Ryan Hirschel (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) had team highs of 44 assists and 12 digs. Classmate Matthew Schiferl (Wheeling HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) matched those dozen digs. Szara and freshman Joshua Richardson (Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Hazel Crest, Ill.) were each in on four blocks.
 
Ekum and Hunter each had a dozen kills for Lakeland, while Desmond Williams chipped in with 10. J.T. Leavitt had a match-best 15 digs.
 
Coach Mark Lau's club is back in action on March 7, when Mount Mercy visits Carver Center for a 7:00 p.m. match.