THE OVERVIEW

• Results: Maranatha 0-3 Lakeland (8-25, 16-25, 24-26)
• Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
• Attendance: 163
• Record: Sabercats are now 2-18
• Next Match for MBU: Friday, Mar. 9 at Marian - 6 p.m.

THE LEAD

WATERTOWN, Wis. -- The Sabercats forced the third set into a tie but could not overcome a slow start against the Lakeland Muskies tonight.

The NACC mainstays hit for .405 percent on the night and earned 53 of their 76 points to hand the Sabercats another straight-set defeat.

THE STORY

Lakeland, who registered only 9 hitting errors in the entire match, came out swinging in the first set. The visitors boasted a line of 13-2-23 and their committed defense limited MBU to just 8 points. After a tight initial tradeoff, Lakeland pulled away with a 9-1 run and closed out the set going away.

MBU was able to double their points in the second set but still could not find an answer to Lakeland's well-balanced squad. Early kills from Andrew Carpenter, Brendan Burckart, and Derek Wallis kept things close for the Sabercats at the start, but Lakeland steadily pulled away throughout the set to seal the 2-0 lead.

Things seemed to be heading for an easy Lakeland win in the third set, as the visitors cruised out to a 10-5 lead to get things started. It was then that Wallis and company took back control, as MBU recorded a 6-0 run courtesy of kills from Wallis, Burckart, and Taylor Dafoe. Another 4 kills from Wallis late in the set gave Maranatha the 23-20 lead. 

But the Muskies would not be denied. One final kill from Wallis brought the set to a 24-24 tie, but Lakeland promptly answered with 2 consecutive points to put the match on ice.

THE NUMBERS

Wallis led everyone with 11 kills in the match. That's Wallis' 7th match this season with double-digit kills.

Wallis tallied 8 kills in the final set.

Burckart and Andrew Carpenter recorded 4 kills apiece.

Matt Wetzel finished with 14 assists this time - that's an above-average performance for the senior setter.

THE CALENDAR

The Sabercats will travel to Marian University for a 6 p.m. match Friday. Catch the details at mbusabercats.com/composite.