CHICAGO – Roosevelt's Senior Day was spoiled Tuesday with a four-set loss to Bethel (Ind.) at the Goodman Center in the Lakers' final home game of the 2025 season.

The Lakers served first and quickly jumped out to a 4-0 lead with Seth O'Brien at the service line. The senior had an ace during that stretch and Roosevelt (2-13) led by as many as five in the early going. However, the Pilots were able to respond with a key 4-0 run that gave them a two-point lead they would never relinquish in a 25-20 first-set victory.

Bethel took control of the second set with an 8-2 run in the middle, upsetting the rhythm of the two teams trading points early. Mark Zmojdzin was a bright spot for Roosevelt with five kills on eight swings in the second set. However, the Lakers committed seven service errors and gave up four aces as Bethel ran away with a 25-20 second set.

Roosevelt came out ready in the third set and showed it wasn't going to roll over lightly. The Lakers hit .357 in the third set and added four blocks to take the third set 25-19. Diego Esquivel had five kills in the set and Kajetan Bieniek added four to prolong the match for the Lakers.

The fourth set was a nip-and-tuck affair with 11 ties and three lead changes with both teams battling. Esquivel added five more kills for the Lakers, but the Pilots broke a 16-16 tie with a 7-1 run that featured four Roosevelt attacks being stuffed at the net.

Esquivel led the Lakers with 14 kills and a .346 hitting percentage and Zmojdzin added 10 kills on a .333 hitting percentage. Lachlan Diamond, Esquivel and Achille Rustghi all had three assisted blocks to lead Roosevelt defensively while Michele Bascape led the team with six digs and 34 assists.

UP NEXT: Roosevelt hits the road this weekend to Rolla, Missouri for the Miners Invite at Missouri S&T. The Lakers open the event Friday at 7 p.m. against LeMoyne-Owen before facing Rockhurst and Missouri S&T on Saturday.