CHICAGO – Following a sensational opening weekend, UIC senior Alyssa Ehrhardt was named the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week by the conference office on Monday. It is the second time she has claimed the weekly award in as many seasons with the Flames.
 
Ehrhardt was instrumental in helping the team get off to a 3-0 start while winning the Redhawks Invitational over the weekend. The Algonquin, Ill., native averaged 4.42 kills per set with an attacking percentage just below .300. She also averaged 2.25 digs and 0.67 aces per set in UIC's victories over Louisiana Tech, Southeast Missouri State and New Orleans. She was named the most valuable player of the tournament, headlining a group of three Flames on the All-Tournament Team.
 
In the season opener against Louisiana Tech, Ehrhardt helped UIC roar back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Lady Techsters in five sets. She hammered down a career-high 27 kills against LA Tech, while adding eight digs, five aces and a pair of blocks. She hit .306 in the match, committing only eight attacking errors in 62 attempts during a 3-2 victory for the Flames.
 
On Friday night Ehrhardt was just as impressive as she helped UIC knock off the host team, SEMO, in four sets. The outside hitter added 16 kills at a clip of .368 (16k-2e-38a), while registering a team-high 15 digs for her first double-double of the season in the 3-1 triumph. A year ago Ehrhardt paced the Flames with nine double-doubles.
 
UIC played its third match in approximately 24 hours on Saturday morning against New Orleans. After a bit of a sluggish start, Ehrhardt finished strong with 10 kills, four digs and an ace in her team's straight-set victory over the Privateers.
 
"Alyssa [Ehrhardt] was locked in all weekend," said UIC head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley. "She would be the first to tell you that she wouldn't have accomplished all that she did without the help of her teammates, but she, along with our other seniors, did a great job of setting the tone. It was a nice start to the season and wonderful for Alyssa to be recognized for her achievements."
 
Ehrhardt leads the Horizon League with 4.42 kills per set after the opening weekend of the season. She also ranks third in aces per set (0.67) is tied for the most total aces with eight. As a team, the Flames, who are off to their best start since 2011, currently rank second in the conference in both hitting percentage (.283) and kills (14.42 per set).
 
UIC will head to the Sunshine State next weekend to participate in the JAX Classic in Jacksonville, Fla. The Flames will open against the Charlotte 49ers on Friday, Sept. 2 before meeting Presbyterian and Jacksonville on Saturday, Sept. 3.