OMAHA, Neb. – The UIC volleyball team capped off the Omaha Challenge with a 3-2 (28-26, 15-25, 25-19, 20-25, 15-10) victory over UMKC Saturday afternoon. The Flames wrap up the two-day tournament with a 1-2 record overall.

 Paola Santiago paced the Flames' offense in the tournament, recording 36 kills for an average of 2.57 per set. Alexandria Hicks (29), Clara Lamb (27), Ali Witt (26), and Manuela Conte (23) all finished the invitational with 20+ kill efforts.

Conte led the way in digs, averaging 3.29 per set (46 total), while Velina Minkova followed closely with 45. Santiago averaged 3.00 digs per set, while Marija Borcic averaged 2.29 scoops per set. Tatyana Ndekwe led the charge at the net, totaling 17 blocks in the tournament (1.21 per set). Lamb (12) and Witt (11) also added to the Flames blocking prowess.

Match Highlights

• Set One: UMKC scored three straight following an 11-11 tie for a 14-11 lead, leaving the Flames to play catch up.
• Set One: UIC tied the match at 20 following a 3-0 run that featured kills from Ali Witt and Manuela Conte. After a UMKC timeout, the Flames took their first lead off a Roos error. UMKC replied with back-to-back kills, but Clara Lamb stepped up to the net and buried a pair of feeds to put UIC back in the lead, 23-22.
• Set One: Two UIC errors turned the tables again, but Lamb came through again to tie the set at both the 24 and 25 marks.
• Set One: Tied at 26, Paola Santiago polished off the Roos with a kill and a service ace, 28-26.
• Set Two: The Roos sped off to a 5-0 lead at the start of the second frame and never looked back, taking the set 25-15. Eight errors plagued the Flames in set two, coupled with 13 kills and five blocks from UMKC.
• Set Three: The Flames bounced back in set three and got to work, racing off to a 19-12 lead in the third.
• Set Three: UMKC threatened with a 4-0 run to come within four, 22-18, but kills from Marija Borcic and Alexandria Hicks as well as a block from Santiago finished the set 25-19 in favor of the Flames.
• Set Four: The Roos regrouped in the fourth set, building an 18-10 lead. Following a timeout, the Flames answered with a 6-0 run to come within two, 18-16, forcing UMKC to call a timeout of its own.
• Set Four: Following the break in play, the Roos returned to the court and took the set 25-20.
• Set Five: The tiebreaker began with an early lead for the Flames, 9-4. The Roos would only get as close as three, 12-9, before the Flames would take the set 15-10 for the 3-2 victory.

Facts & Figures

• Ali Witt led the Flames offense, hitting .409 with 13 kills and just four errors.
• Paola Santiago recorded her third-straight double-double, with 12 kills and 14 digs.
• Manuela Conte contributed her first double-double of the season, notching 11 kills and 16 digs.
• Lauren Musante earned her first double-double in a Flames uniform, adding 15 digs to her 27 assists.
• Clara Lamb finished the afternoon with 11 kills to match her personal best, seven of which came in the first set alone. Lamb's performance earned her a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
• Alexandria Hicks also added a double-digit kill effort with 10.
• Velina Minkova led the Flames with a personal best 29 digs.
• Marija Borcic paced the Flames with 29 assists, while also adding seven digs.
• The Flames ended the match with 11.5 digs, led by Tatyana Ndekwe's seven. Hicks denied five at the net, while Lamb and Witt added three apiece.

Up Next

• The Flames will face city rival Chicago State on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. CT.