CHICAGO - The Roosevelt volleyball team engaged in a frenetic fourth set against St. Francis (Ill.) to eventually win, even the match and force a decisive fifth set, but the Lakers ran out of steam in a narrow 19-25, 25-22, 25-16, 30-32, 15-8 loss to open the CCAC Crossover at the Goodman Center on Friday.

Brooke Lee posted a match-high 18 kills and Abby Petroelje tallied 11 kills for the Lakers (10-15, 5-9 CCAC), who opened the match with a big first-set win and led the second set 20-15 before the Fighting Saints (14-20, 7-6 CCAC) rallied to capture the frame and take the third set for a 2-1 lead.

St. Francis led the fourth stanza 21-19, but the Lakers rattled off five straight points to get set point until the Saints did the exact same thing to take a 25-24 lead.

The two sides then engaged in a see-saw battle, trading points and swinging momentum back and forth. The Lakers trailed 30-29 when the Green and White tallied three consecutive points to force the fifth.

St. Francis scored the first four points of the finale, and though Roosevelt got within one in the middle of the frame, the Lakers could not equalize and take control away from the Saints in a tough finish despite a resolute battle.

Mallory Nickelson had 26 assists, and Casadi Brendemuehl led three Lakers in double-digit digs with 18. Nickelson had 15 digs for a double-double.

The CCAC Crossover inside the Goodman Center concludes on Saturday with a full slate of two-court action. Roosevelt takes on Indiana South Bend at 10 a.m. and finishes with Calumet St. Joseph at 3 p.m.