CHICAGO – A back-and-forth match went the wrong way for Roosevelt as it fell in a tight three-set match against Olivet Nazarene on Tuesday night at the Goodman Center in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference action.

The Lakers (8-10, 1-2 CCAC) had multiple opportunities to strike in each set, but could not find the answers to the Tigers defense. Roosevelt held a 16-12 lead in the opening set before falling 25-22 then rallied from an early four-point deficit to tie the set at 13 in the second set only to drop it 25-20. In the third set, the Lakers led most of the way and were on the edge of extending the match before Olivet Nazarene grabbed a 25-23 win.

Diego Esquivel and Mark Zmojdzin tied for the team lead with eight kills each while Lachlan Diamond added four kills and five blocks. Michele Bascape and Terrance Young Jr. both had four assisted blocks to add in the defensive effort, and Bascape also served up 19 assists. At the service line, Andrea DiPaola smashed four aces and Piero Eletto had three aces to help keep the momentum going for the Lakers.

Roosevelt will return to court in more conference action Thursday with a 7 p.m. first serve at Calumet St. Joseph in Whiting, Ind.