CHICAGO – The Roosevelt offense could not sustain enough momentum as the Lakers dropped their Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener in straight sets against Olivet Nazarene on Tuesday night at the Goodman Center.

The Lakers managed just 23 kills in the match and had several chances in each of the three sets to steal back from rhythm from the visiting Tigers. However, Roosevelt (1-3, 0-1 CCAC) managed just one run of at least four straight points, something Olivet Nazarene accomplished six times in the match. A main culprit came from the service line as Roosevelt finished with 13 service errors, many of which came at inopportune times that halted the Lakers' chance at building momentum.

It was a shaky beginning for the Lakers in their home opener, surrendering a 10-2 run early in the first set to fall behind 13-5. After Roosevelt's second timeout of the opening set, it finally found its footing with a pair of kills from Conrad Para and an ace from Christopher Fermainnt for the only four-point run of the match. The Lakers were able to cut the deficit down to two on a handful occasions late in the opening set, but surrendered six of the final seven points of the set to drop the first stanza, 25-18.

Roosevelt came out in the second set with a lot more fight and kept it close early before a 5-0 run from Olivet Nazarene put the Tigers up by four. The Lakers responded with four of the next five points to put itself in position to tie the set, but they won consecutive points just twice more in the set as they fell 25-19 in the second.

With their backs against the wall, the Lakers lost five of the first six points in the third set before rallying to tie the set at 10. It stayed tight for most of the middle part of the third as well with neither team able to gain more than a two-point separation until the Tigers pulled out their final 4-0 run to take a 22-16 lead. Once again, the Lakers battled over the final few points before finally succumbing 25-19 in the final set.

Shawn McCarthy led the Lakers with nine kills and Para finished with seven putaways of his own. McCarthy also was credited with 10 digs and was part of a team block in the third set. Tony Galeana dished out 17 assists for Roosevelt in the loss while Joseph Claffy served up three aces in the match.

The Lakers are back in action Thursday when they travel to Palos Heights to face Trinity Christian in another CCAC battle at 7 p.m.