Lakers Stung By St. Ambrose In Bittersweet CCAC Quarterfinal

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Roosevelt's season came to a disappointing end with a sweep at the hands of St. Ambrose on Tuesday night in Davenport, Iowa in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

The Lakers (11-14) struggled to slow down the high-powered attack from the Fighting Bees in the first two sets, falling 25-18 then 25-13. However, things seemed to be rolling right along for Roosevelt in the third set before St. Ambrose rallied to claim a 25-23 victory and seal the match.

Viktoria Marysheva led the team with nine kills and a .364 hitting percentage, coming alive in the early stages of the third set. The junior smashed down three kills in the first four points as Roosevelt raced out to a 4-0 lead and she added two more kills in the set to help the Lakers maintain their lead. Her final kill of the match broke a 16-16 tie and helped spur a run that Roosevelt used to move within two points of extending the match.

Despite the Fighting Bees winning the final six points of the set to finish the match, the Lakers hit .321 as a team in the final set to put the pressure on the hosts. Emily DeBlecourt had seven kills in her final match with the Lakers and also led the team with four total blocks. The senior also tied with Joana Rafols for the team high with seven digs.

Roosevelt will build off its first postseason appearance in six seasons as it prepares for its first season in NCAA Division II next year in the Great Lakers Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Lakers' top-three attackers are expected to return next season in Marysheva, Rafols and Yuliia Shchepkina. Meanwhile, Isa Grana and Zoe Hutchinson are expected back to help run the offense as setters.  In addition, five of the six Roosevelt players who averaged a block per match are scheduled to return for the Lakers, which also includes Krista Norton and Brooke Williams.