Oct. 21, 2010
CHICAGO - With another important weekend of conference play on tap, the UIC volleyball team will conclude a four-match road trip on Friday and Saturday by taking on Horizon League foes Loyola and Valparaiso.
On Friday the Flames (10-12, 5-5 Horizon League) will remain in Chicago, but head north to Rogers Park to take on cross-town rival Loyola (9-12, 2-8 Horizon League) at the Alumni Gym at 7 p.m. The following day, UIC will travel east to take on the Valparaiso Crusaders (18-5, 6-4 Horizon League) at 6 p.m. at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
The Flames have faced both teams once already this season, battling them on their home court at the Physical Education Center in September. On Sept. 24, UIC fell to Valpo in an epic five-set thriller after battling back from a 2-0 deficit to take sets three and four before ultimately dropping the deciding set, 15-17. The Flames quickly rebounded the following day, however, to snap a three-match losing streak and dispense of the Ramblers in four sets. UIC won the first two sets before dropping an intense third frame that saw the final score reach all the way to 29-31 in favor of the visitors. Undeterred, the home-six bounced right back and hammered Loyola in the fourth, 25-14.
"This is a huge weekend on the schedule for us," said UIC head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley. "Both Loyola and Valpo pushed us hard last time and we need to continue to play well together as team if we want to succeed."
Through 10 matches, the Flames find themselves in the middle of the pack and in fifth place in the conference with five wins and six league matches to play. UIC began its second spin through the Horizon League schedule on the road last weekend by splitting a pair of contests, falling to Cleveland State in four sets before coming back the next afternoon to knock off Youngstown State in four.
Loyola currently sits in eighth place in the league standings under sixth-year head coach Marcie Wolbeck. The Ramblers find themselves near the top in several categories. They rank in the top three in several statistical categories, including: hitting percentage (.208), kills (13.32 per set) and assists (12.38 per set).
Saturday's foe, Valparaiso, is currently fourth in the conference standings, one match ahead of the Flames with a record of 6-4. The Crusaders, under head coach Carin Avery, get it done effectively on both sides of the net as they lead the Horizon League in kills with 13.94 per set, assists with 13.06 per set and digs with 18.32 per set.
"Since the first weekend when we faced these two teams, we're working much better as a team," said Schumacher-Cawley. "We're passing well, we're playing better on defense and, on offense, we're not relying on just a couple of people to get all the kills for us. It's been a good week of practice and preparation and we'll look to continue those things moving forward."
Both Horizon League matches this weekend will be broadcast live, and free of charge, via the Horizon League Network. For more information on the broadcasts, please click here.
Fans can listen to podcasts featuring exclusive interviews with UIC head coaches, staff and student-athletes for free on iTunes by searching "UIC Flames."
Fans wishing to learn more about affordable and flexible UIC ticket plans are encouraged to call 312-413-UIC1 or visit www.uicflames.com and click on the "Tickets" tab on the Flames home page.
