CHICAGO – Roosevelt could not overcome slow starts in the first two sets in an eventual three-set loss to Michigan Tech on Saturday at the Goodman Center.

The Lakers expended a lot of energy clawing their way back into sets after digging a deficit in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match. and that was again an issue at times. Roosevelt trailed 6-0 in the opening set then 6-1 in the second set, but both times rallied to make things interesting for the Huskies pulled away.

In the first set, Roosevelt (2-22, 1-11 GLIAC) picked up a big energy boost from Regan Miessler off the bench to help overturn the deficit. The sophomore served up an ace to make it 6-3 then her return to the court in the middle of the set sparked a big Lakers run. Miessler was anchoring the back row for most of the 9-2 run that allowed Roosevelt to overcome a 15-9 deficit to take its first lead of the contest.

However, the Huskies were able to get two big blocks to take a 21-19 lead, and never looked back in a 25-21 opening set win. After Michigan Tech raced out to a 6-1 lead, the Lakers scored the next four points courtesy of a pair of kills from Alessia Isgro and an ace from Cydney Martinez. Unfortunately, Roosevelt would not get closer as Michigan Tech used a 7-0 run to blow open the set and win 25-15.

The best of the Lakers came to play in the third set as the two teams went back and forth with long rallies punctuating the tight set. The score was tied 15 times in the third set and the lead changed hands seven times before the Huskies prevailed 25-23. Michigan Tech broke open the set with a 4-0 run at 15-15, but the Lakers didn't quit and fought their way back to tie the set at 22 then again 23.

Isgro had five of her team-high 12 kills in the third set, but just as important was her defense to help keep rallies alive. Roosevelt had 24 digs in the third set after recording 31 in the first two sets combined, and Isgro had seven of her 10 digs in the third set. Miessler had six digs in the set and finished with 11 in the match and Martinez added four digs in the third set to end on a team-best 13. Isgro's 10 digs make it the second straight match that the Lakers had three players with double-digit digs.

Zoe Hutchinson had 16 assists to pace Roosevelt and also added nine digs. Lihi Zaibert had three blocks while Nekane Parera was part of two stuffs.

UP NEXT: Roosevelt will celebrate Senior Night on Thursday when the Lakers host Parkside at 6 p.m. for their final home match of the season.