ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Roosevelt opened its 2025 campaign with a straight-sets defeat to No. 12 Lewis on Tuesday night in Romeoville.

The Lakers (0-1) jumped into the deep end to start their first year as an independent NCAA program with one of the best programs in the country. Yet Roosevelt was not intimidated by the Flyers and came out fighting in a back-and-forth opening set. The Lakers opened up a 14-12 lead in the first set before Lewis scored the next 10 points en route to a 25-15 win.

The battle lasted much longer in the second set with Roosevelt clawing back from four- and five-point deficits several times in the game. Lewis was unable to fully pull away from the Lakers as a 20-15 deficit was quickly chopped down to 21-19 before the Flyers finally prevailed 25-21. Roosevelt hung tough again in the early part of the third set before a 7-0 run propelled the Flyers to a 25-15 win to complete the sweep.

Mark Zmojdzin was Roosevelt's leading attacker with 10 kills and a .412 hitting percentage in the opener. Andrea Di Paola had eight kills on 20 attacks and freshman Kajetan Bieniek added five kills as well. Michele Bascape dished out 21 assists to lead the team and five different Lakers served up an ace as well. Bieniek, Di Paola and Miguel Mendez-Palencia each had four digs to tie for the team lead on defense.

UP NEXT: The Lakers open up their home slate Thursday at 5 p.m. against future Great Lakes Valley Conference rival Quincy at the Goodman Center.