MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The UIC volleyball team (4-1) grabbed one win and one loss in its first day at the Chippewa Invitational, taking a 3-2 (25-23, 25-19, 18-24, 35-37, 9-15) loss to NDSU (2-2) before sweeping Eastern Illinois (0-5) in its final match of the day, 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-20).
Match Highlights vs. NDSU
Set One
- UIC found itself in a 17-10 hole in set one, but following a timeout, the Flames rattled off four straight to come within striking distance, 17-14.
- The Flames grabbed five of the next seven to the set at 19, and a Bison attack error gave UIC a one-point advantage, 20-19.
- UIC led by three after a pair of NDSU attack errors and a Kiera James kill, 24-21, but back-to-back Bison terminations put them one away, 24-23.
- Another James kill ended the set with a win for the Flames, 25-23.
Set Two
- It was the Flames who took the 17-10 lead in set two, forcing a Bison timeout.
- NDSU was able to come within four, 22-18, after a series of kills and UIC errors, but that would be as close as it would come, as a Tatyana Ndekwe kill and a Bison ball handling error put the set to bed, 25-19.
Set Three
- Trailing 20-15, the Flames grabbed two off an Ndekwe termination and a Bison miscue.
- NDSU answered with three-straight kills, restoring their lead, 23-17.
- The Flames chipped in one more on a NDSU ball handling error, but the Bison took the set off a kill and a service ace, 25-18.
Set Four
- The Flames built an 18-12 lead in the fourth, but the Bison took nine of the next 12 to bring the set to a draw at 21.
- The two teams battled in what would become a marathon of a set, vying for the two-point advantage. A trio of UIC attack errors eventually handed the set to the Bison, 37-35.
Set Five
- The Bison grabbed five of the first six tallies for a 5-1 lead and never looked back, containing the Flames to just nine points in the frame, 15-9.
Facts & Figures vs. NDSU
- Kiera James led the attackers with a match-high 17 kills.
- Paola Santiago killed 16 and was one digs shy of a double-double with nine.
- Michelle Glover recorded a career-high 14 kills, while also contributing a pair of blocks.
- Tatyana Ndekwe put down seven, while Alexandria Hicks terminated six.
- Lauren Musante snagged her third double-double of the season with 43 assists and a team-high 16 digs. Libero Velina Minkova dug out 15.
- Despite the loss, the Flames put down more kills than the Bison, 61-58.
- NDSU held the advantage in blocks, 12-5, as well as digs, 76-69.
Match Highlights vs. Eastern Illinois
Set One
Set Two
- The Flames jumped out to an early lead, 18-11, following a four-point rally.
- The lead increased to nine after a James kill, 23-14. An EIU attack error put the Flames at set point, but an error on the Flames' side gave the Panthers a point, 24-15.
- Another James termination ended the set in favor of the Flames, 25-15.
Set Three
- Tied at 18, an EIU bad set and following error put the Flames ahead, 20-18.
- The Panthers cut the lead in half with a kill, but back-to-back terminations from Glover and James put UIC up by three, 22-19.
- A Flames service error put EIU back within two, but Marija Borcic put up a stop at the net, 23-20. James and Ndekwe paired up for a block, and a misplaced Panther attack gave the victory to the Flames, 25-20.
Facts & Figures vs. Eastern Illinois
- Paola Santiago paced the offense with a match-high 11 kills.
- Kiera James and Michelle Glover added seven kills apiece for the offense. Glover also chipped in five blocks for the defense.
- Manuela Conte led the defensive efforts with 11 digs, while Velina Minkova contributed 10.
- UIC tallied 36 kills, compared to 29 for the Panthers. The Flames also collected more digs, 42-39. UIC also held the advantage in blocks, 9-6.5.
Up Next
- UIC will face host Central Michigan tomorrow in the tournament finale. First serve is set for 2:30 p.m. CT.
