CHICAGO – The UIC volleyball team (4-2) will face off with city rival Chicago State (3-4) on Tuesday, Sept. 4. The Flames and Cougars will compete inside Chicago State's Jacobey Dickens Center, with first serve scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.

LOOKING BACK
UIC took to the road for the first time in 2018, traveling to Omaha, Neb. for the Omaha Challenge. The Flames came away with a 1-2 record, falling 3-2 to UTEP and 3-1 to host Omaha on Friday before finishing out the tournament with a 3-2 win over UMKC on Saturday.

 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. Lamb was named to the invitational's All-Tournament Team.

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.

OFFENSIVE FRONT
The Flames are hitting .180 as a team, utilizing a balanced attack with three players netting 40+ kills, and another four players with more than 30. Redshirt freshman Kiera James averages 2.53 kills per set, while Paola Santiago averages 2.23 terminations per frame. Ali Witt is the Flames' most efficient attacker, owning a .358 44k-10e-95a) attack percentage thus far.

BLOCK PARTY
The Flames are out blocking opponents by a margin of 54.5-44.0. UIC averages 2.37 blocks per set compared to a 1.91 average by its opponents. Tatyana Ndekwe leads the presence at the net, averaging 1.35 rejections per set. Alexandria Hicks (0.95 per set) and Ali Witt (0.87 per set) also provide a large presence up front for the Flames.

FRESH FACES
UIC welcomes 12 newcomers to the 2018 squad, 10 of which are freshman. New to the Flames are junior transfers Tatyana Ndekwe (Hutchison) and Courtney Rutledge (Louisiana Tech). Sierra Bolen, Marija Borcic, Hailey Duncan, Paola Santiago, Michelle Glover, Clara Lamb, Lauren Musante, Velina Minkova, Francesca Wagoner and Emily Kelly make up the team's 10 freshmen.  

SENIORITY
The Flames look to its two seniors to anchor the 2018 squad in Carla Salvato and Ali Witt. Salvato, a local talent coming out of neighboring Saint Ignatius College Prep, led the squad from the libero position in all 30 matches last season. The senior was the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 11, 2017 following a career-high 31-dig performance against Bradley at the CEFCU Classic. Her 31 digs was just the 15th time in program history that a UIC player tallied 30 plus digs in a match.

Witt hails from suburban Crystal Lake, Ill., and has been a strong presence up at the net for the Flames the past two seasons. She led the squad last season with 104 blocks, while also averaging 1.87 kills per set on the offensive side. The middle blocker owns two of UIC's top 10 single-match attack percentages all-time, recording the ninth highest in UIC history last season (.727) and the fifth highest in her sophomore year (.786).

KEY RETURNERS
In addition to its two seniors, UIC returns four players from the 2017 roster. Sophomore Alexandria Hicks and redshirt sophomore Manuela Conte are both entering their second year in a Flames jersey after both earning a spot on the Horizon League All-Freshman Team last season. Sophomore Alexandra Drosopoulou is also returning this season after gathering 198 kills, 246 digs and 27 service aces in 26 appearances last season.

SCOUTING CHICAGO STATE
The Cougars are fresh off a 2-1 appearance at the FIU Panther Fest, taking wins over Savannah State and Delaware, after falling to host Florida International. Chicago State is hitting .181 as a group, but allows opponents a .211 attack percentage. The Cougars look to Lauryn Dela Cruz and her 3.72 kills per set average on offense, and Megan Klavitter's 5.20 digs per set on defense. Summer Farris leads the Cougars in blocks, owning a 0.96 blocks per set average.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Flames' road stretch continues as they travel south for the UCF Challenge Sept. 7-8.