PLYMOUTH, Wis. - The Rockford University men's volleyball team fell 3-2 on Friday evening in a non-conference match at Lakeland University. The match was extremely close in all five sets, with neither team able to seize control. Although the Muskies held a 49-34 advantage in kills, Rockford played a cleaner match, finishing with three less attack errors and nine less service errors. Unfortunately, it was not enough, as the Muskies picked up their second straight win over the Regents (28-26, 27-29, 25-21, 22-25, 15-11).
- There were five lead changes and seven ties over the first 22 points of the match.
- With the score tied at 11-11, Lakeland scored the next five points to take the largest lead thus far for either team at 16-11.
- Rockford would use a 5-0 run of its own late in the set and retake the lead at 19-18. Connor McNear got the scoring started with a kill from Josh Albers.
- The Muskies were able to pull back in front and had set points at 24-23 and 25-24.
- However, Rockford was able to dispatch of both and had a set point of its own at 26-25.
- After the Muskies tied it again at 26-26, the Regents scored the final two points of the set for the 28-26 victory.
- The second set was even closer than the first, with neither team ever leading by more than three points. There were a total of nine lead changes and fourteen ties throughout the set.
- Rockford had a pair of set points at 24-23 and 26-25, but came up empty on both occasions.
- The Muskies then closed the set with a 4-1 spurt for the 29-27 win.
- The Regents opened the third set on a 8-2 run and took the largest lead for either team thus far. Isaiah Dixon led the charge with two kills, while Danny Karpenko had a kill and an ace.
- With Rockford still out in front 12-9, the Muskies reeled in five straight points to take their first lead of the set at 14-12.
- Lakeland would eventually build its lead up to as many as five at 21-16.
- Rockford got back within two at one point, but dropped the third set 25-23.
- The fourth set was once again very close.
- The largest lead came midway through, with Lakeland holding an 18-13 advantage.
- Fortunately, the Regents promptly went on a 6-1 run to tie the match at 19-19. Isaiah Dixon tallied two of the Regents' three kills.
- Rockford would eventually retake the lead at 21-20, before closing the set on a 4-1 run to tie the match at 2-2 and force a fifth and deciding set.
- The Regents led in opening moments of the fifth, but it was a 5-1 Muskie spurt that put them out in front for good at 9-5.
- Rockford cut the deficit down to two points in the closing moments, but it was not enough, as Lakeland went on to win the set 15-11 and the match 3-2.
- Connor McNear led Rockford with a team-high 10 kills, 3 blocks, 2 digs and an ace.
- Danny Karpenko added 8 kills, 4 blocks, 3 digs and an ace.
- Isaiah Dixon finished with 8 kills, 9 digs and a block
- Josh Albers tallied 29 assists, 7 digs, 3 blocks and 2 aces.
