CHICAGO -- UIC went toe-to-toe with the Idaho Vandals in its first match of the season at the Flames Athletic Center, but in the end the visitors narrowly outlasted the home team, 3-2 (26-24, 30-32, 25-20, 22-25, 15-13).

How It Happened
After Idaho (1-4) claimed the first set, 26-24, the Flames (2-2) survived a marathon of a second set, winning 32-30. The Vandals responded with a five-point win in set three, but Hunt helped UIC force a decisive fifth frame with back-to-back kills to seal a 25-22 victory.

Idaho scored four of the first five points in the fifth set before UIC ripped off four straight points on a kill from Alexandria Hicks and three in a row from Kyisha Hunt. The Flames later led by three, 7-4, before the Vandals quickly tied it up once again. Haylee Mathis gave UI its first crack at match point, but Hicks thwarted the effort with a kill off a feed from Kaliegh Skopal. However Idaho's Torrin Crawford sealed the match and helped her team into the win column on the next rally.

Beyond the Box Score

• Both teams hit at least .400 in the fifth set. UIC hit .409 (11k-2e-22a), while Idaho connected at a clip of .400 (11k-1e-25a). The Vandals did serve two aces in the final frame and the Flames did not have one.
• UIC was led offensively by a prolific effort from freshman Alexandria Hicks. The opposite-side hitter drilled a career-high 24 kills with an attacking percentage of .443.
• Hicks also had career highs on the defensive side with five digs and four blocks.
• Senior Kyisha Hunt added a career-high 21 terminations for the Flames Friday. The Kankakee, Ill., native's previous was 18 against Valparaiso on Sept. 24, 2016. Her previous high this season, 16, came against Bowling Green in the season opener on August 25.
• Alexandra Drosopoulou and Manuela Conte were also in double digits with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Both numbers marked season-high performances for the first-year UIC standouts.
• Conte recorded her first collegiate double-double by adding a match-high 27 digs. It is the second time this season that the Bologna, Italy, native recorded 27 digs. The first instance came against Bowling Green on August 25.
• Another newcomer, Kaliegh Skopal also posted her first double-double in a UIC uniform with 36 assists and 13 digs. Both numbers marked season highs for the freshman from Texas.
• Freshman Brecken Roe tallied her first career kill and her first two digs in in her second appearance at UIC.
• Idaho's Kaela Straw led all players with 25 kills Friday, while teammate Reece Carman added 17.

Up Next
UIC will conclude its home tournament on Saturday evening by hosting the DePaul Blue Demons at 6 p.m. DePaul knocked off Idaho in the first game of the UIC Invitational, 3-1, on Thursday night.