CHICAGO – The UIC volleyball team (15-8, 8-2 HL) won its sixth match in a row on Saturday, sweeping IUPUI (5-19, 2-8 HL) at home in the Flames Athletic Center. The Flames donned pink jerseys for their annual Dig Pink match, in efforts of raising awareness for Breast Cancer.

Match Highlights

• Set One: The Flames started in a 3-0 hole, but after four-straight kills from Paola Santiago, Kiera James and Tatyana Ndekwe, UIC took over the lead 12-11. The Flames went on to take four of the next five, extending the lead, 16-12.
• Set One: IUPUI was able to draw within two, 20-18, but the Flames took the next four to reach match point, 24-18.
• Set One: The Jags had one more surge, pairing a kill with two blocks, 24-21, but a block from Ndekwe and Marija Borcic finished it, 25-21, in favor of the Flames.
• Set Two: Set two started with another 3-0 lead for the Jags, but UIC recovered quicker this time, taking over the lead at the 5-4 mark.
• Set Two: The Flames lead eventually grew to eight, 21-13, but the Jags were able to go on a 4-0 run, 21-17.
• Set Two: UIC took its next three by way of kills from James and Ndekwe, as well as a Manuela Conte service ace, 24-17. The Jags tallied a kill and an ace, but committed an attack error on the next play to give the set to the Flames, 25-19.
• Set Three: The Flames sped off to a 5-0 lead to start the third frame, but after a 3-0 run the Jags came within three, 10-7. UIC stopped the streak and took five for themselves, 15-7, but IUPUI went on another 3-0 run, 15-10.
• Set Three: UIC's lead grew to 10 by match point, 24-14, and the Jags were only able to chip in two more before a big kill from Santiago ended it, 25-16.

Facts & Figures

• Paola Santiago led UIC's offensive front with 14 kills. The freshman was just one dig shy of a double-double with nine digs.
• Kiera James was also in the double digits with 11 kills on offense.
• Tatyana Ndekwe killed nine, while Ali Witt killed four. Witt led at the net with five blocks, while Ndekwe recorded two stops
• Manuela Conte paced the defense with a match-high 20 digs.
• Velina Minkova contributed eight digs, followed by Carla Salvato with seven.
• Marija Borcic handed out 37 assists and added six digs as well as four blocks.
• The Flames hit .252 as a squad, compared to .143 by IUPUI. UIC out-killed (42-32) and out-blocked (7-5) the jags. The Flames also tallied 54 digs compared to IUPUI's 44.

Up Next

• The Flames return to the road next for rematches against Cleveland State and Oakland.

Postgame Reaction - Kaylee Koetter



Highlights