WLC's Hopes Of First NACC Win Dashed Late By Raiders

MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College pushed a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opponent to five sets for the second straight match, but fell to MSOE 3-2 on Wednesday at the Time of Grace Center.

The Warriors (4-16, 0-6 NACC), who played their fourth five-set match of the season, fell to the Raiders (7-12, 5-2 NACC) by scores of 27-25, 25-12, 23-25, 24-26, 15-13.

WLC took control of the first set from the start, leading by as many as six points at 18-12. MSOE, which trailed 23-20 before rallying to take its first lead at 25-24, scored the final two points for the 27-25 win. Knotted 6-6 in the second set, Milwaukee School of Engineering rattled off eight straight points to take command of the match with a 25-12 win.

Wisconsin Lutheran faced no more than a one-point deficit in the early stages of the third set, but turned the tables to take a 19-11 lead. The Warriors, who hit .297 in the set, weathered a late Raiders run to hang on for a 25-23 victory. A five-point run in the fourth set turned a one-point deficit into a 14-10 lead for WLC. Wisconsin Lutheran led by as many as five points on five occasions, including the later at 23-18. The Warriors withstood a 6-1 run by MSOE for the 26-24 win.

WLC once again never trailed for the majority of the decisive fifth set, leading 12-9 before Milwaukee School of Engineering rallied behind a 6-1 run to take its first lead late and win the closing set 15-13.

Wisconsin Lutheran hit .174 in the match with a program-record 49 kills, 20 errors, and a program-record 167 attacks. 

Junior Grant Wempner (Garden Grove, Calif.) recorded a career-high 14 kills and hit .419 to lead the Warriors. Sophomore James Biedenbender (La Crosse, Wis.) posted a double-double with a career-high 12 kills along with 10 digs. Freshman Drew Wempner (West Allis, Wis.) added 11 kills along with a season-high six total blocks.

Sophomore Jay Thammavongsa (Franklin, Wis.) also added a double-double with 37 assists and 21 digs, both career highs. Freshman Trevor Salutric (Lockport, Ill.) collected 15 digs, while freshman Connor Haeuser (West Bend, Wis.) finished with a season-best 12 digs.

Alex Cretors (25 kills, 12 digs) and Matthew Chavez (42 assists, 13 digs) each recorded double-doubles to lead the Raiders, who hit .175 with 65 kills, 32 errors, and 189 attempts.

WLC remains home on Friday for a 7 p.m. NACC match against Concordia Chicago (11-9, 4-3 NACC). Live coverage links will be available at WLCSports.com.