CLEVELAND – The UIC volleyball team (14-6, 3-3 HL) put together another solid offensive effort on Sunday afternoon, defeating Horizon League foe Cleveland State (5-12, 1-5 HL) by a final tally of 3-1 (25-19, 18-25, 25-23, 25-23). The Flames utilized a balanced attack in the win, as Alexandria Hicks, Kiera James, Brookah Palmer and Tatyana Ndekwe all finished with double-digit kill efforts. As a squad, UIC tallied 63 kills, its highest in a four-set match all season.

Match Highlights
Set One

• Back-to-back kills from Alexandria Hicks and a Marija Borcic service ace helped the Flames break a 6-6 tie and take an early 10-6 lead.
• After a Cleveland State timeout, the Flames rattled off the next four straight to extend the lead, 14-6.
• UIC's offense continued to roll, pushing the lead to 10, 19-9, after kills from Hicks and Brookah Palmer.
• The Vikings grabbed the next three, but a Clara Lamb/Michelle Glover block and a Palmer service ace made it 21-12.
• Cleveland State took six of the next seven to come within five, 22-17, but a kill from Tatyana Ndekwe gave UIC the sideout.
• A UIC service error and a Viking service ace put Cleveland State just four away, but kills from Ndekwe and Palmer ended the set with a win for the Flames, 25-19.

Set Two

• Set two started with an early lead for Cleveland State, 10-7, forcing UIC to call timeout.
• The Flames were able to tie it at 11 thanks to three kills and a block, but the Vikings took the next four to lead it 15-11.
• The Flames were unable to summon a comeback, falling 25-18.

Set Three

• UIC erased an early four-point deficit with kills from Hicks, Ndekwe and Palmer, tying the set at 16.
• The Flames led by a pair, 20-18, but a Cleveland State kill and a UIC error brought the match to another tie.
• The two teams traded the lead back-and-forth, as the Flames called timeout down by one, 23-22.
• UIC regrouped and grabbed the last three points consecutively off a trio of blocks to put the set firmly in its favor, 25-23.

Set Four

• The Vikings got another early lead in set four, 15-10, but the Flames got to work once again, tying the set at 17.
• The two teams traded off on points, tying the set at 18, 19, 21 and 22.
• A kill from Hicks and a block from Glover and Lamb put UIC at set point, 24-22, but a UIC service error reduced the lead to one, 24-23.
• Palmer found the floor on Cleveland State's side to end the set and give the Flames the 25-23 win.

Facts & Figures

• Alexandria Hicks led all attackers, tying her season-high with 18 kills. The junior ended the afternoon hitting .314 (18k-7e-35a).
• Kiera James, Brookah Palmer and Tatyana Ndekwe also finished with double-digit kill efforts, recording 11 kills apiece.
• Ndekwe's 11 terminations marked a new season-high for the senior.
• Palmer also turned in 12 digs on defense for her second double-double of the weekend.
• Clara Lamb was also near double-digits, recording seven kills for the offense.
• Marija Borcic finished with her fourth double-double of the season, turning in 14 digs to go with her 33 assists.
• Velina Minkova led the defense with a match-high 25 digs, while Manuela Conte dug out 15.
• Michelle Glover paced UIC's blocking efforts with five total blocks. Lamb followed with four total stops, while Ndekwe finished with three.
• UIC led in kills by a comfortable margin, 63-46. It also had the advantage in digs (85-70), as well as blocks (8.0-6.0).

Up Next

• The Flames begin their longest homestand of the season, playing their next four matches at home.
• The homestand begins on Friday, Oct. 18 against Northern Kentucky.