2008 Woodie Awards
Men's volleyball set sights high for nationals
Leeann Hupfer
Issue date: 4/3/03 Section: Sports
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 Media Credit: Sayaka Yagi Left to right: Lakeland Junior (#2) Chris Gornik and sophomore (#9) John Lewicki wait in anticipation for their opponent’s return. |
The conference tournament and the national tournament are what the men have been practicing for all season long. A No. 1 ranking and winning record won't mean much to these players unless they come out on top.
The regular season ended last Wednesday with a blowout game against UW Stevens Point. Before the game, head coach Chad Schreiber recognized seniors Lee Neagle and Mark Smolinski and sophomore Duncan Mathieson as they wrapped up their volleyball careers at Lakeland. The game was great season ender for the men as they crushed Point in three games 25-13, 25-22, 25-15. Jon Lewicki led the night in kills with 11, Pat Klinkert added five kills and five blocks, and Mathieson contributed 22 assists and 7 digs.
Earlier that week they played a brutal game against UW Oshkosh. In their fifth meeting this season Oshkosh took the Muskies to five games. It looked as if Lakeland would slide right through as they won the first two games 25-21 and 25-23.
Oshkosh seemed to be too much as they came back to win the next three games 25-22, 25-21, 15-7. "We played a close match until the fifth game where we seemed to have lost all of our confidence and couldn't find a way to put a ball down on their side," said Schreiber.
No. 23 Marquette was thought to be a tough game but proved to be no match for the Muskies. The team won handily in three games 25-15, 25-20, and 25-21. Despite just coming out of spring break, the men proved they weren't rusty at all by beating Marquette in under and hour. Outside hitters Dave Koch and Lewicki dominated this game with 25 kills combined.
The conference tournament will be held this weekend at UW Whitewater and will decide either a No. 1 or 2 seed for the men in the national championship. The Wisconsin Volleyball Conference is, no doubt, the toughest conference in the nation by having No. 6 UW Oshkosh in D1, No. 23 Marquette in D1, and MATC tied with Lakeland for No. 1 in D2. There is sure to be a grudge match for the Muskies against their bitter rivals, MATC, whom they have never beaten.