CHICAGO – The UIC volleyball team (7-1) started its home invitational with a win on Friday, taking down Bradley (2-5) by a final tally of 3-1 (25-19, 25-27, 25-15, 25-22) to capture its third-straight win. The Flames utilized a balanced attack on offense, as five players turned in eight kills or more.

Match Highlights
Set One

• Strong offense gave the Flames a 17-11 lead to start the first frame.
• The Braves went on a late 3-0 run to come within five, 23-18, but that would be as close as they would come, as a Paola Santiago kill would end the set, 25-19.

Set Two

• Bradley bounced back from set one, jumping out to a 21-14 lead.
• A pair of 4-0 runs allowed the Flames to tie the match at 23.
• A kill from the Braves was answered with a kill from Alexandria Hicks, evening things out at 24.
• Another Bradley kill was once again answered, this time by Santiago, forcing the match into extra points.
• Back-to-back kills for the Braves gave them the set, 27-25.

Set Three

• The Flames rebounded in set three, taking a dominating 21-11 advantage.
• UIC's offense was hitting efficiently through the set, capturing its last three points off kills from Michelle Glover and Kiera James and take the set, 25-15.
• UIC hit .250 (12k-4-32a) as a squad in set three, its best showing of the night.

Set Four

• Set four started off with another UIC lead, 14-7, but Bradley proved it wouldn't go down without a fight, eventually tying the match at 17 and taking over the lead off a termination, 18-17.
• Santiago tied it up with a kill, but the Braves tallied back-to-back successful attacks to go up by two, 20-18.
• UIC rattled off the next five consecutively, thanks to big blocks from James and Glover, as well as kills from Brookah Palmer
• Bradley's offense brought them back within two, 24-22, but another Palmer termination would end the game and finish the Braves, 25-22.

Facts & Figures

• The Flames utilized a balanced attack on offense, with three players recording 10 or more kills
• Michelle Glover led the offense with 13 kills. The sophomore also chipped in six total blocks on defense.
• Brookah Palmer finished with 12 kills, eight digs and a pair of block assists.
• Marija Borcic grabbed her first double-double of the season, assisting on 24 while digging out 18. Lauren Musante also handed out 24 assists.
• Alexandria Hicks tallied 10 kills while also picking up four block assists.
• Paola Santiago was in double-double territory with nine kills and 17 digs.
• Libero Velina Minkova led the squad with 19 digs.
• UIC had the advantage in kills, 56-45 as well as digs, 84-74. The Flames also blocked 11 to Bradley's seven.

Up Next

• The Flames will close out their home invitational tomorrow with matches against Murray State and Sacramento State.

Postgame Interview - Brookah Palmer