Sept. 3, 2011

NU 3 - UIC 0

CHICAGO - Kelsey Safranek and Nicole Allgood each recorded eight kills and MaryKate Imrieadded 29 set assists, but the UIC volleyball team suffered its first defeat of the season, 3-0 (25-13, 25-20 and 25-15) versus visiting Northwestern in the championship match of the Chicagoland Challenge at the Flames Athletic Center Saturday night.

UIC, who upended Montana State in four sets Saturday morning, enters the third week of the season with a 5-1 record. Northwestern improves to 5-0, and still has not dropped a set on the season.

Northwestern rushed out to an early lead in set one and never looked back, cruising to a 25-13 win. After the Wildcats jumped out to a 7-2 advantage, the Flames answered with two-of the ensuing three points to pull within 8-6. But Northwestern strung together an ensuing 7-2 run to open up a 15-8 lead, and force UIC into its first timeout. UIC fell behind by double-digits (19-9) five points later, and could draw no closer than eight points for the remainder of the frame.

The second set was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team leading by more than two points through the first 20 points. Clinging to a 13-12 lead, Northwestern recorded a 4-1 run to take a 17-13 advantage that it would not relinquish. UIC closed to within 23-20 down the stretch, and initially pulled within two points, but the call was reversed, giving the Wildcats a 24-20 lead, and eventual 25-20 win and 2-0 advantage in the best-of-five.

The Wildcats carried the momentum over to the third and final set, rushing out to a 9-3 lead in the early stages. After UIC answered with back-to-back points, NU countered with a 6-2 run to take a 15-7 lead. The Wildcats' lead reached double-digits (22-12) 12 possessions later, before the Flames put together back-to-back points to pull within 24-15. Northwestern ended the match one point later, handing UIC its first setback of the season.

The Wildcats served nine aces, and had 12 assisted blocks for a total of six throughout the match. Allgood hammered down her eight kills on just 16 swings, posting a .438 hitting percentage for the match. Sara Sternardalso enjoyed an efficient offensive performance, converting six kills on just 12 attempts (.417).

Safranek and Sternard were named to the all-Chicagoland Challenge team, which was voted on by the coaching staff from each school.

UIC will travel to Evansville, Ind., next weekend (Sept. 9-10) to take part in the Dunn Hospitality Invitational. The Flames will take on Arizona, host Evansville and Southeast Missouri (SEMO).

--UIC--