JOLIET, Ill. --- Aided by attacking clips higher than 34 percent in three of its five sets, Roosevelt University rallied to defeat the University of St. Francis women's volleyball team by a 25-20, 15-25, 25-27, 25-16, 15-6 count in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Thursday night at the Sullivan Center.

Roosevelt (9-13, 5-7 CCAC) came out hot, hitting .486 in the opening set before falling into negative territory in Set 2 and at an even ten percent in Set 3.  Roosevelt, however, was able to regroup in the final two sets with percentages in the mid-30's to earn the come-from-behind victory.

Joana Rafols had the big night for the guests with her 21 kills.

For the Saints, Gabriela Oliveira totaled 18 kills with Desiree Anderson landing 10.  Both players also recorded a team-high three aces, while Oliveira led the team in digs, as well, with 17.

Kaylie Sippel moved from a setting role (27 assists) to an attacking one (8 kills) later in the match.  Talia Messana picked up the former assignment and finished with 15 assists.

Kylie Kany led the Saints at the net with five blocks with Cadence Wodrich one behind at four.

Roosevelt jumped out of the gates in Set 1 to 5-0 and 11-2 leads.  Trailing most of the set by seven points, USF did put one 5-0 rally together courtesy of a pair of Oliveira aces to get within 23-20 before the Lakers closed out the match.

St. Francis (9-18, 7-5) got the head start in Set 2, leading 4-0 and 6-2 behind a pair of kills and one ace from Anderson.  The Saints were also up 11-7 when they ran off six unanswered points (five on Roosevelt attacking errors) to eventually even out the match.

Roosevelt built an 8-4 lead in Set 3 before the Saints chiseled their way back to tie the contest at 13-all.  They would go on to take their first lead at 18-17 and pushed that to 21-18 only to have Roosevelt come back to force ties at 22 and 24.  Sippel and Oliveira finally closed out the set with back-to-back kills.

The Lakers controlled the final two sets, gaining 6-0 and 6-1 starts, respectively, to snag the road victory.

Notes: Messana's 15 assists were a season high … Kany has led the Saints in blocks in each of the last two matches with her three at Trinity Christian College on Tuesday and her season-high five on Thursday .. Sippel's double-double was her team-leading 14th of the campaign with Oliveira notching her eighth … The Saints close out the two-match homestand on Saturday when they host Indiana University Northwest at 7 pm.        

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