YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The UIC women's volleyball team recorded its first Horizon League victory of the season Friday evening against Youngstown State. The Flames defeated the Penguins in straight sets (25-19, 25-22, 25-19) in route to their first victory since Sept. 20.

Graduate Transfer Kelsie Groot paced the Flames offense, bringing in 13 kills. Junior Kaylin Powell recorded six kills, while senior Alyssa Ehrhardt and Ali Witt both earned six. On defense, Groot dug out nine, while sophomore Gaia Gbola followed closely with eight. Freshman Grace Murphy registered seven digs, and Ehrhardt and Nicole Johnson each dug out six. Senior Casey Harris led the Flames in blocks with four, while also contributing four kills on offense.

The Flames maintained control through the first set, never dropping the lead across the entire frame. The Penguins were able to tie the score at the 7-7 mark, but the Flames pulled away to an 11-8 lead off a kill from Groot and a trio of YSU attack errors. UIC lead by seven, 22-15, when the Penguins contributed two off of a UIC error and a kill from Erin Kalahar. The Flames regained their seven-point lead with kills from Witt and Powell, 24-17, before committing two attack errors to put the score at 24-19. Ehrhardt capped off the first set with a kill off a feed from Johnson to give UIC the first set.

UIC dominated the start of game two with a 10-point lead,18-8. YSU advanced by three off of UIC errors, and then brought the score to 19-13 following a pair of kills. Groot registered a pair of kills to make it 21-13, but a UIC error and YSU kill made it 21-15. The Flames were at game point at the 24-17 mark, but momentarily lost focus, allowing YSU to score five straight. A YSU error put a stop to the streak and gave UIC the 2-0 lead.

Set three started off with YSU ahead 12-10, before the Flames fought back to tie it at 13. UIC then took over, scoring five unanswered points to take an 18-13 lead. The Penguins responded and attempted to chip away at the lead, bringing the score to 19-17, but the Flames responded with another four straight. A YSU kill and service ace made it 23-19, but Witt and Ehrhardt put in the final two points to clinch the sweep.

The Flames will tackle Northern Kentucky tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. CT in Regents Hall.