Chicago, Ill. – Behind a match-high 26 kills from Brittney Thomas, visiting Mount Mercy outlasted the Roosevelt women's volleyball team on Friday night in a five-set marathon match, 14-25, 28-26, 24-26, 25-17, 15-12 at the UIC Physical Education Building.

The Lakers (8-6) have now dropped two straight matches since rolling out five consecutive victories. The Mustangs, who dropped a four-set match at Judson earlier in the day, rebounded to move their record to 8-5 this season.

Sophomore Vanessa Owusu and freshman Tori Schrementi each notched a team-high 13 kills for Roosevelt, while freshman libero Arielle Nausieda collected 20 digs.

Thomas led the way for Mount Mercy with a double-double effort, adding 15 digs to her 26-kill outing. She highlighted the night with six kills in the decisive fifth set. Libero Meghan Nelson tabbed a match-best 21 digs for the Mustangs.

After taking the opening set, the Lakers owned the serve with a chance to take the second set as well, leading 25-24. But a service error gave momentum back to the Mustangs who eventually pulled out the win, 28-26. Roosevelt held on to win the third set 26-24, after owning a 24-20 lead.

That late Mount Mercy rally in the third set proved to be a bad omen for things to come for the Lakers. The Mustangs used an early 8-1 run to pull away for a 25-17 triumph in the fourth set and then opened the fifth set by tallying seven of the first nine points in an eventual 15-12, match-clinching victory.

The Lakers are now off until Sept. 20, when they play host to Saint Xavier at the UIC Physical Education Building at 7:00 p.m.