Nov. 8, 2014
Box Score
CHICAGO - Senior Sara Jo Sternard became the 16th member of UIC's 1,000 Kills Club Saturday in UIC's 3-0 sweep (25-21, 25-21, 25-21) over Wright State (4-22, 1-11 HL). Sternard needed four kills to achieve the milestone and put down six on 17 attempts.
Sternard had 156 kills as a freshman in 2011, 278 as a sophomore and 329 as a junior before her 237th kill this season made her a permanent part of UIC's record book. The last UIC player to reach 1,000 kills was Kelsey Safranek (2009-12), who achieved the feat during the 2011 season.
Junior Stephenee Yancy, who ranks eighth in the nation with 474 kills, extended her double-digit kill streak to 28 contests with 14 kills on 27 attempts for a .370 attack percentage. Yancy also tied her career-high with nine blocks, including four solo blocks. She had five kills and five blocks in the first set.
Redshirt freshman Nicole Johnson, who ranks second in the nation with 1,244 assists, had 40 assists, four digs and two kills. She also picked up her team-leading 24th service ace in the first set.
Sophomore Kara Johnson extended her double-digit kill streak to four contests with 13 kills on 36 attempts. She had seven kills on 13 attempts in the second set. Johnson also compiled nine digs and tied her career high with three blocks.
Freshman Allie O'Reilly recorded 15 digs for her second straight double-digit performance. O'Reilly also had two aces for the fifth time this season.
Redshirt senior Maggie Strus compiled 12 digs for her seventh consecutive double-digit effort and increased her program-record total to 1,647. Meanwhile, senior Molly McCoy had eight kills, 10 digs, two blocks and a service ace.
UIC had 11 total team blocks, the fourth time this season the Flames have collected double-digit blocks. UIC also set a three-set season high with 53 digs.
UIC jumped out to an early 6-2 lead in the first set and never trailed again in a 25-21 victory. The Flames used six blocks and three service aces in the first set to overcome 15 WSU kills.
The second set featured six lead changes but UIC used a .364 attack percentage to pull away from a 19-19 tie. Kara Johnson scored five consecutive points late in the set and two straight kills by Harris sealed a 25-21 win.
The Flames had four more blocks in the third set on their way to a 25-21 victory and the sweep. UIC forced the Raiders into 10 attack errors and held WSU to a .125 attack percentage.
Fifth-place UIC (13-15, 7-6 HL) plays host to crosstown rival Loyola Friday (Nov. 14) as the Flames step out of Horizon League play for the last time. The Flames and Ramblers have played 65 times and UIC defeated Loyola in five sets the last time the programs met in the Flames Athletic Center (Nov. 10, 2012).
