Sept. 28, 2001

Box Score

Chicago, Ill. - The University of Illinois at Chicago volleyball team was good on Friday night against Loyola.

Loyola, however, was a tad better.

The Ramblers rebounded from a two-game deficit for the 35-37, 24-30, 30-28, 30-26, 15-11 victory over the Flames in a Horizon League contest at UIC's Physical Education Building.

"We had our opportunities to win," UIC head coach Don August said. "I thought we won the first 2 ? games and they won the last 2 ? games.

"Unfortunately, those were games three, four and five."

Sophomore Teaha Shepperd (Kalamazoo, Mich./Galesburg) led UIC (4-7, 0-3) with a season-high, 20 kills and 13 digs while teammate Vicki Lublow (Elgin, Ill./Elgin-Larkin) added 10 kills and a game-high 29 digs.

The loss marks the Flames' fifth straight loss and third five-game loss in as many matches. Two of those losses came against last year's regular-season champion UW-Milwaukee and Loyola, the tournament champion. With the victory, Loyola improves to 6-5 overall and 3-0 in the Horizon League.

"I look at this a couple of ways," August said. "The last two years (UW-Milwaukee and Loyola) have smoked us.

"Now we have them fighting for their lives, so obviously we're making some significant strides."

Following Loyola's 30-26 victory in game four, the Ramblers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and never trailed. The Flames drew within 8-6, following two Loyola hitting errors.

UIC, however, would return the favor with two consecutive hitting errors to give Loyola a 10-6 lead. Loyola then capitalized with two kills by Shari Davis (17 kills, 17 digs) to secure the game and the match.

August conceded that Loyola played well as a team, but there was one individual that was a constant thorn in UIC's side.

"We couldn't stop (Lauren) Mikos," August said. "Mikos was the dagger in us all night long, she just played unbelievable."

Mikos finished the contest with 24 kills and 14 digs. Seven of those kills came at a crucial moment as Loyola rebounded from a 28-26 deficit in game three for a 30-28 victory.

"We got ourselves in position to win game three," August said. "I don't want to say we let them win, because they earned the victory and I thought in games four and five, they outplayed us, but not by much."

Game one was a see-saw affair that featured 25 ties and nine lead changes. Loyola took a 29-28 lead and was facing game-point before senior Lynn Clarkson (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) tied the game up at 29-all with a solo block-kill.

Clarkson finished the game with a game-high five blocks (1 solo, four assists). UIC faced game-point itself five more times until they clinched the contest on a hitting error by Loyola setter Lauren Holbrook (50 assists, 24 digs, 8 kills).

The Flames also received solid performances from junior Gina Caneva (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) and sophomore Lindsey Filkins (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North).

Caneva pounded home 12 kills while Filkins contributed 14 kills and 17 digs in the losing effort.

UIC will be back in action on Monday as they will host the Chicago State Cougars at 7:00 p.m. in the Physical Education Building.