CHICAGO – The UIC volleyball team (7-6) ended the Chicago Cup on a high note with a pair of wins over Loyola (8-3) and DePaul (2-9) on Saturday. The Flames snapped an eight-match win streak for the Ramblers and stopped a three-game skid of their own with the 3-1 (17-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-17) win and finished the day with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-14) sweep of the Blue Demons.

UIC finished the Chicago Cup with a 2-1 record. Clara Lamb led the offense with an average of 2.70 kills per set, while Manuela Conte (2.50 per set), Kiera James (2.30 per set) and Tatyana Ndekwe (2.11 per set) all averaged above two kills per set. Lamb and Conte represented the Flames on the All-Tournament Team.

Velina Minkova owned an average of 4.00 digs per set to lead the Flames, and Lamb carried the largest presence at the net with 12 total blocks and a 1.20 per set average. Conte also carried a large defensive load, averaging 2.40 digs per set. Marija Borcic averaged 5.60 assists per frame and also contributed on defense with a 2.20 digs per set average.

Match Highlights vs. Loyola

• Set One: An early 8-1 lead for Loyola left the Flames with work to do, and after four straight terminations, UIC pulled within three, 9-6, but that was as close as it would get, as set one ended with the Ramblers on top, 25-17.
• Set Two: The second frame was a closer battle, and after kills from Manuela Conte, Kiera James and Clara Lamb, the Flames owned a 15-13 lead.
• Set Two: Leading 24-20, Loyola killed three to threaten the Flames' lead, 24-23, but Tatyana Ndekwe buried a feed from Marija Borcic to end the set 25-23 in favor of the Flames and even the match at one.
• Set Three:  Ali Witt and Clara Lamb put up a wall to start set three, blocking four in route to an early 8-4 lead for the Flames.
• Set Three: UIC continued to dominate the set, and after a 5-0 run, the Flames had a 20-9 advantage.
• Set Three: A 3-0 run put the Ramblers as close as they would come, 21-13, before UIC ran away with the set, 25-16.
• Set Four: Tied at nine, a pair of kills from Witt and a block from Conte gave way to a 12-9 lead for UIC and forced a Loyola timeout.
• Set Four: The Flames grew their lead to six after kills from Lamb, Ndekwe and James as well as a James – Ndekwe block, 20-14.
• Set Four: UIC held Loyola at bay for the remainder of the set, allowing just three more Rambler points before ending the set with a 25-17 victory and the 3-1 win.

Facts & Figures vs. Loyola

• Manuela Conte led the Flames in both kills (13) and digs (15) to record her second double-double of the season. The redshirt sophomore also contributed three service aces.
• The Flames hit .266 as a squad, their second-highest hitting percentage of the season.
• Tatyana Ndekwe terminated 11, a personal best. Kiera James killed nine, while Clara Lamb killed eight.
• Lamb blocked six to tie her career high. Ali Witt also stopped six, tying her season best total. The Flames outblocked the Ramblers 8-7.
• Velina Minkova dug out 13 from the libero position, while Carla Salvato and Marija Borcic recorded seven digs apiece.
• Borcic handed out 27 assists to lead the squad, and also added three service aces. Lauren Musante tallied 21 helpers and a pair of aces.

Match Highlights vs. DePaul

• Set One: An early 6-0 run gave the Flames an early 11-3 lead, and the dominance continued from there, as the Flames shut down the Blue Demons 25-12 in set one.
• Set One: UIC was efficient in set one, hitting .276 as a team with 12 kills and four blocks.
• Set Two: The Flames extended a two-point lead to five with a 3-0 run that saw a Marija Borcic service ace, a kill from Emily Kelly and a DePaul error, 14-9.
• Set Two: Another 3-0 run put the match out of reach for the Blue Demons, 21-13, and the Flames finished set two with a 25-18 victory and a 2-0 advantage.
• Set Three: The Flames took the first six points of the third frame, three of which were Manuela Conte service aces.
• Set Three: Set three ended on an 8-2 run for the Flames, as they maintained total control for the 25-14 victory.

Facts & Figures vs. DePaul

• The Flames tallied 13 service aces as a squad, a season high. Manuela Conte was responsible for five, a career high for the redshirt sophomore.
• Clara Lamb led the offensive front with 10 kills. Kiera James and Conte tallied seven kills each.
• Tatyana Ndekwe was the most efficient, hitting .385 with six kills and only one error.
• Velina Minkova paced the Flames in digs from the libero position, recording 15 scoops for the UIC defense.
• Marija Borcic notched her fifth double-double of the season with 16 assists and 10 digs.

Up Next

• The Flames will kick off Horizon League play next weekend on the road against IUPUI (Sept. 21) and Wright State (Sept. 22).