April 5, 2011
CHICAGO - After nearly three months of offseason work and preparation in the gym and in the weight room, the UIC volleyball team will begin a challenging spring slate this Saturday at the Three Wise Men Classic, hosted by Loyola University.
Pool play begins Saturday, April 9 at the Gentile Center on Loyola's Rogers Park campus at 10 a.m. The Flames have been placed in a talented group with the Ramblers, Notre Dame and Bowling Green State. The second pool features Illinois, Bradley, Washington University and the reigning Horizon League regular season champions, the Milwaukee Panthers.
On Saturday, April 16, UIC will host its own spring tournament at the Flames Athletic Center. The Flames will welcome DePaul, Northern Illinois and another Horizon League rival, Green Bay beginning at 10 a.m.
Head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley's team will wrap up the spring schedule at the Wildcat Spring Tournament on Saturday, April 23 at Northwestern. In addition to UIC and the host Wildcats, Green Bay and Illinois State will also be in attendance at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston.
"I'm excited to see us compete and work to get better each opportunity we have," said Schumacher-Cawley. "We'll be facing great competition this month that will help us not only for the spring and summer, but also help ready us for the fall."
The Flames finished 13-18 in 2010 in Schumacher-Cawley's second season at the helm. UIC bowed out at the Horizon League Championship to Cleveland State in the quarterfinal round. Earlier in the season, however, the Flames captured the Best Western Invitational crown, knocking off Charleston Southern, Troy and the hosts, North Florida, in the process. That marked the first preseason tournament championship for UIC, away from home, in nearly 15 years.
The Flames return nine players from last year's team, including 2010 All-Horizon League honoree Kelsey Safranek and COBRA Magazine All-Midwest Region selection Janise Dismuke. In the fall, UIC will also welcome seven newcomers following the loss of seniors Jessica Dalke, Epiphany Davis, Casie Sullivan and Taylor Szatkowski to graduation.
UIC FLAMES 2011 SPRING TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
Saturday, April 9 - Three Wise Men Classic at Loyola University (Chicago, Ill.)
Saturday, April 16 - UIC Spring Tournament (Chicago, Ill.)
Saturday, April 23 - Wildcat Spring Tournament at Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.)
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