Nov. 12, 2010
GREEN BAY, Wis. - The UIC volleyball team will embark on a two-game swing this weekend through the state of Wisconsin where it will take on Horizon League rivals Green Bay and Milwaukee during the conference's final weekend of regular season play.
The Flames (13-15, 7-7 Horizon League) have not played a conference match since Oct. 30 when they erased the Wright State Raiders in straight sets on Senior Day at the Flames Athletic Center. In a pair of non-conference matches since then, UIC is 1-1, having lost at Marquette before defeating Western Illinois in Macomb on Monday night.
One player, in particular, who has elevated her game for the Flames as the season's end draws near is sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Safranek. The Downers Grove, Ill. native has notched a double-double in four straight matches, including a 19-kill, 11-dig effort in the win at Western Illinois. In those last four matches, Safranek is averaging 4.15 digs per set, 4.54 kills per set and an attacking percentage of .396 (59-15-111), all of which are team-highs during that stretch.
Though the Flames have clinched a spot in next weekend's Horizon League Championship Tournament, there is still a great deal on the line this weekend. Sitting at 7-7 in league play, UIC is currently fifth in the standings; Green Bay (11-18, 7-8 Horizon League), which swept Butler and Wright State on the road last weekend, is charging fast and right behind the Flames at 7-8.
"This is a huge weekend for UIC volleyball," said head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley. "Both Green Bay and Milwaukee are playing very well and we need to play great team defense and be ready to go from the first point.
"We are very much looking forward to the challenge and to keep working toward next weekend's Horizon League Tournament."
Schumacher-Cawley's bunch fell to Milwaukee, 3-1, at home earlier this season before rebounding the following night to knock off the Phoenix in a five-set thriller.
The Flames will face the Phoenix on Friday at 7 p.m. UIC will conclude the regular season on Saturday night in Milwaukee at 7 p.m. against the Panthers. The contest against Green Bay will be broadcast live here. The showdown with the Panthers on Saturday will be shown live on the Horizon League Network.
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