CHICAGO – The luck didn't fall in Roosevelt's favor Friday evening at the Goodman Center as the Lakers dropped a tight three-set battle against Saginaw Valley State in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match.

The two teams were so evenly-matched that the largest lead by either side was five points, which Saginaw Valley State held in the third set. The match featured 31 ties and 15 lead changes, but each set ended in an identical 25-23 scoreline in favor of the Cardinals. The Lakers (2-20, 0-11 GLIAC) held the lead at 15-12 in the first set and 16-14 in the second, which were both the latest they held an advantage in any set.

Aleksandra Barac led a two-headed attack for Roosevelt with 15 kills on 32 swings for a .312 hitting percentage. She was consistent throughout the match with five kills in each set to slightly outpace Emily DeBlecourt, who had 11 kills and hit .241. DeBlecourt also added 10 digs for her third double-double of the season.

Isa Grana got the Lakers going in the first set with three aces, including consecutive aces to cap off a 5-0 run that gave Roosevelt a 12-10 lead. Even after Saginaw Valley State went on a 7-0 run to take a 19-15 edge, the Lakers won five of the next six points to tie the set at 20. The second set was the most hectic of the match with 16 ties and eight lead changes over the 48-point set.

Yet the third set showed the true heart of this Lakers squad as Saginaw Valley State had to hold on at the end to complete the sweep. After taking a 12-11 lead, Roosevelt lost eight of the next 11 points and found itself taking a timeout down 19-15. It didn't get much better for the Lakers as the deficit grew to 22-17, prompting another timeout. But then the Lakers turned to Barac's arm, and she delivered two kills and a block to force a timeout from the Cardinals. Grana then took advantage of a free ball and tied the set at 22.

Grana finished with 31 assists and 10 digs as well, trailing libero Cydney Martinez's 15 digs on the evening. The Lakers allowed just a single ace in the match while serving up four themselves and Krista Norton was involved in three of Roosevelt's five blocks in the match.

UP NEXT: Roosevelt bounces right back Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. against Lake Superior State back at the Goodman Center. The visiting Lakers have dropped nine straight conference matches since Roosevelt visited Sault Ste Marie, Mich. on Sept. 20.