PERRYSBURG, Ohio – Lakeland competed better in both of its opening matches in the 2018 Owens Express Invitational but ultimately lost both matches. The Lakers dropped a match to Jackson College 3-2 and Waubonsee Community College 3-1 Friday.

With the losses, Lakeland falls to 1-4 overall and remains at 1-2 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference play.

Jackson 3 – Lakeland 2

Lakeland came close to coming away with its first match but could not keep up with Jackson in the fifth set as the Lakers fell 3-2 by the score 25-23, 19-25, 25-22, 12-25 and 13-15.

Morgan Smart (Perry) recorded 22 kills and earned 11 digs in the loss. Erynn Daubenmire (Willoughby) also reached double figures in kills with 15. Olivia Scott (Willoughby) dished out 36 assists and earned 12 digs while Charriel Bourns (Cleveland) also reached double figures with 10 digs.

Lakeland started strong in the opening set as Smart and Daubenmire each had six kills as the Lakers claimed the first 25-23. Jackson battled back to tie the match with a 25-19 victory to level the sets at 1-1.

Daubenmire and Smart teamed up again to combine for 12 kills as Lakeland grabbed a 2-1 lead with a 25-22 victory in the third. Unfortunately, that would be the final set won by Lakeland as Jackson claimed the final two to steal away the match.

Waubonsee 3 – Lakeland 1

Lakeland avoided a sweep by winning the third set but Waubonsee bounced back to win the fourth set to earn a 3-1 victory by the score 25-14, 25-15, 22-25 and 25-18.

Daubenmire led the Lakers in kills with 12 while Smart also reached double figures in kills with 10 and added 16 digs. Scott added 22 assists in the loss.

The first two sets did not turn out well as Jackson took the first two 25-14 and 25-15 to take a 2-0 lead early on. Smart added three kills in the third set as Lakeland showed some fight by claiming the third set 25-22. Waubonsee would rebound to claim the fourth set 25-18 to seal the victory.

Lakeland will wrap up the 2018 Owens Express Invitational with two more matches on Saturday, Sept. 1. The first match for the Lakers will be at 11:45 a.m. against Oakland Community College and then will wrap up at 3:15 p.m. against Lansing Community College.

For more information about Lakeland athletics, visit www.athletics.lakelandcc.edu.

About Lakeland Community College

Founded in 1967, Lakeland Community College was the first college in Ohio created by a vote of the people. True to our mission, Lakeland provides quality learning opportunities to meet the social and economic needs of the community.

Offering day, evening, weekend and online classes, the college serves more than 10,800 credit and 2,800 noncredit students (2016). For more information about the College, visit www.lakelandcc.edu.