CHICAGO -- The UIC women's volleyball team split its final two matches at the Chicago Cup Saturday, falling to Northwestern before defeating Loyola in the nightcap. In the morning match, the Flames fell in three sets to the Wildcats, 25-20, 25-18, 25-23. UIC rebounded in its final match of the tournament, sweeping the Ramblers, 25-22, 26-24, 27-25.
 
Northwestern Match
Set One

• Northwestern took its first lead of the set at 3-2 and would not trail the rest of way.
• UIC had its lowest hitting percentage of the match in the opening set, hitting .077 as a team

Set Two

• Things were back and forth early, with the two teams tied at 2-all, 4-all and 5-all.
• Northwestern grew its lead to four at 14-10, prompting a Flames timeout. UIC would get within three points down the stretch as Northwestern took the set, 25-18.

Set Three

• The Wildcats jumped out to a 10-6 lead, forcing a Flames timeout.
• UIC responded with a 5-1 run to pull within one at 12-11.
• The teams traded points until Northwestern took the lead for good at 19-18 and closed out the set.

Facts and Figures

• Paola Santiago led the team with a double-double, finishing with 15 kills and 12 digs
• Marija Borcic posted 20 assists while Lauren Musante added 10.
• Four different Flames recorded 10 or more digs. Manuela Cone and Velina Minkova had 15, followed by 12 from Santiago and Palmer.

Loyola Match
Set One

• A Santiago ace and a Michelle Glover block gave the Flames the early lead at 5-3.
• With Loyola leading 18-12, UIC went on a 9-2 run to regain the lead at 21-20.
• Glover ended the set with a solo block to give UIC the 25-22 victory.

Set Two

• The Ramblers jumped out to an early 7-2 lead before UIC came all the way back to take the lead, 10-9, forcing a Loyola timeout.
• Loyola had set point at 24-23, but a service error tied things at 24-all
• A Loyola attack error followed by a block from Musante and Tatyana Ndekwe gave the Flames the 26-24 victory.

Set Three

• UIC were the ones to open up the early lead, taking a 10-5 lead.
• Loyola came all the way back to eventually tie the set at 21-all. The Ramblers would eventually have set point at 24-23.
• Tied at 25, Glover put the Flames a point from victory with a kill. Loyola committed an attacking error to seal the 27-25 win and the 3-0 sweep.

Facts and Figures

• Glover led the attack with a team-high 10 kills while Alexandria Hicks, Palmer and Ndekwe each added seven.
• Musante dished out 19 assists and Borcic added 18
• Santiago and Palmer each picked up 21 digs to lead the defensive effort.
• As a team, UIC had 12 total blocks compared to the 6 for Loyola.