Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. - The UIC volleyball team (0-1/0-0 Horizon) dropped a hard-fought match, 3-2 (13-25, 26-24, 25-18, 21-25, 9-15) to Syracuse in the opening match of the 2012 season at the Colgate Classic in Hamilton, N.Y.

"It was a hard-fought match," head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley said. "We did some nice things, and we need to continue to improve every match."

Despite logging a three-point run, which included a service ace by redshirt sophomore Maggie Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg), during the first set of play, the Flames dropped in a 13-25 outcome to the Orange.

Senior Aubrey Sniegowski (Lemont, Ill./Lemont Township) then led the Flames to an early 1-0 lead with a kill that was assisted by junior Justine Garcia (Chicago, Ill./Brooks). Sophomore Molly McCoy (St. Charles, Ill./Wheaton Academy) chipped in two of UIC's next three offensive points with back-to-back kills for a 9-9 score.

As the set continued in a back-and-forth fashion, Sniegowski regained the lead with consecutive kills for an 11-9 advantage for UIC. Senior Kelsey Safranek (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) later hammered down her two kills of the set to bring the Flames within two points (15-13) of the Orange.

The teams continued to battle, and with UIC down 24-23, Sniegowski tied the set at 24, before sophomore Sara Sternard (Clarendon Hills, Ill./Westmont) took the UIC lead at 25-24. The set was capped off with an attack error by Syracuse (26-24), which tied the match at 1-1.

Through the first two sets, Sniegowski paced the Flames with seven kills.

The Flames were able to win one more set in the match, but the Orange outlasted UIC to win the match in a 3-2 outcome.

The Flames continue play at the Colgate Classic Saturday. The team faces Colgate at 11:30 a.m. (CT), followed by Bryant at 3:30 p.m.