Chicago, Ill. - The Roosevelt volleyball team clinched the first postseason berth in program history by beating IIT, 20-25, 25-19, 36-34, 26-24, at the UIC Physical Education Building on Tuesday night.

Chicago, Ill. - The Roosevelt volleyball team clinched the first postseason berth in program history by beating IIT, 20-25, 25-19, 36-34, 26-24, at the UIC Physical Education Building on Tuesday night.

Valerie Cutrone led all players with 17 kills, Vanessa Owusu turned in 16 kills and a match-high five blocks, and Aleesha Cleaver posted 43 assists for the Lakers (21-16, 10-9 CCAC).  

Facing a win-and-in scenario for the CCAC Tournament, the Lakers overcame a sluggish start that resulted in an opening-stanza loss by ratting off decisions in the next three sets.

With the match tied at one set apiece, the Lakers and the Scarlet Hawks (11-22, 5-13 CCAC) played a wild third set that saw Roosevelt break a 34-34 tie on a kill by Cutrone and seal the match advantage on an errant IIT attack. 

The Scarlet Hawks scored the first eight points of the fourth set, but the Lakers rattled off a 19-6 run for a five-point lead. IIT would turn in a rally of its own to even  the match at 24 until a Scarlet Hawk attack error and a kill by Arielle Nausieda that was assisted by Meredith Rounds locked up the win, and the historic playoff berth, for Roosevelt.   

Rounds was honored prior to the match as the team's lone senior.  

Roosevelt will learn its CCAC Tournament seeding later this week. Stay tuned to rooseveltlakers.com for complete coverage as the Roosevelt volleyball team embarks on the postseason.