Oct. 3, 2001

Box Score

Chicago, Illinois - Heading into Wednesday night's match-up with Marquette, the University of Illinois at Chicago volleyball team had dropped three Horizon League contests that went to the maximum five games.

UIC pushed each team to the limit, but that fifth game has proven to be quite a burden to bear.

Wednesday night, proved much of the same as the Flames dropped a 30-25, 28-30, 30-19, 16-30, 11-15 decision to Marquette for their fourth five-game loss in the past five matches at the Physical Education Building on Wednesday night.

"They're pressing a little bit," UIC head coach Don August said. "They want it, they care so much and they work hard.

"We're not relaxing and executing well in the fifth game as we are in the earlier games in the match."

Sophomore outside hitter Teaha Shepperd paced UIC (5-8) with 20 kills and seven block assists, while teammate Lindsey Filkins added 14 kills and seven digs.

With UIC holding a 2-1 lead, Marquette forced a fifth and final game with a 30-16 victory in the fourth contest.

"We looked like we got a little tired in the fourth game," August said. "We tried to handle our subs a little better, but we didn't have anybody to go for Teaha.

"It looked like (Teaha) got tired in the fourth game, but she came back harder in the fifth game and played real trong."

The fifth game was a see-saw affair that saw six ties, before UIC took an 8-6 lead at the turn, following a block-kill by Dawn Strahanoski and Lynn Clarkson.

Marquette, however, utilized three kills apiece from Mehgan Devine (9 kills) and Vesna Grbavac (26 kills, 13 digs) to secure the victory.

August feels that it is imperative that his squad turns the corner in the near future.

"We need to find a way to break out of this," August said. "Right now, I really believe that they're trying too hard to make the plays instead of relaxing and making the plays."