WHITING, Ind. – The Roosevelt volleyball team opened the 2018 CCAC Crossover hosted by Calumet St. Joseph on Friday by coming away with a big five-set victory over St. Francis (Ill.), outlasting the Fighting Saints by a final of 23-25, 27-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-12, at the Rittenmeyer Center on Friday evening.

Kendra Lee led all players with 21 kills and 22 digs, while Daria Voronina and Jessica Ratajczak had 11 kills apiece for the Lakers (6-20, 4-10 CCAC).

Roosevelt defeated USF (13-24, 7-7 CCAC) for the first time in five years.

Mallory Nickelson had 26 assists and 11 digs, while Mackenzie Bell added 15 assists.

In addition to Nickelson, Madison Dunbar and Paula Gross had 11 digs.

Taylor Valent led the Fighting Saints with 17 kills.

Roosevelt rebounded from a tight first-set loss with a prolonged second set that went the way of the Lakers.

After falling in the third by five, Roosevelt responded with a four-point fourth-set decision that forced a fifth and deciding frame.

In that finale it was the Lakers breaking an 8-8 tie by accumulating six of the next eight points, setting up a match point that was slammed down by Lee for the match-winning kill.