Aug. 30, 2011
Box Score
Final Box Score 
CHICAGO -The UIC volleyball team secured a 3-1 (17-25, 25-15, 25-16, 25-22) victory over Western Illinois Tuesday at the Flames Athletic Center in Chicago, Ill., giving the squad a 3-0 record to begin the season. The three-match winning streak marks the best start a UIC volleyball team has had since 2000 when the team began the season with a 6-0 run.
The Flames (3-0) dropped the first set to the Leathernecks in a 17-25 score, before entering the second set with resiliency to pick up a convincing 25-15 win. Redshirt sophomore Maggie Strus(Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) played a crucial role in the win during the set as the outside hitter went on an eight point run, which included two service aces to deliver a five point lead at 15-10. The Flames controlled the remainder of the set and brought the match to a 1-1 tie.
Strus quickly returned to action in the third set as she quickly gained three points on her serve, including two service aces to begin the set. Western Illinois continued to battle, but the Flames were able to remain in control of the set, never allowing the Leathernecks to gain a lead and handily won 25-16.
UIC entered the final set with a 2-1 edge in the match, and the Flames went on a five-point run in to bring the score to 12-8. The rally was led by redshirt junior Nicole Allgood(Crestwood, Ky./South Oldham), who served three-consecutive points. The Flames squad continued to build on their lead for an eventual 25-22 victory in the final set of the match.
Strus compiled five total service aces, while adding in nine digs in the match. Allgood hammered down eight kills (.368), while chipping in one assist, two service aces and six digs. Junior Kelsey Safranek(Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) knocked down 17 kills, while claiming four digs and two blocks in the victory.
The Flames return to action Friday during the Chicagoland Classic, where UIC opens the tournament with a match against DePaul at 7:00 p.m. (CT) at the Flames Athletic Center in Chicago, Ill. Fans can follow all of the action with live statistics and a live web stream through UICFlames.com.
--UIC--
