MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The UIC volleyball team (6-1) ended its weekend in style, sweeping host Central Michigan (5-1) in Saturday's Chippewa Invitational finale, 3-0 (27-25, 25-15, 25-16). The Flames fought back from an early deficit in set one to take the frame and were able to keep the momentum going through the next two to complete the sweep and take six of their first seven matches on the season. Paola Santiago was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, and she was joined by teammate Kiera James on the All-Tournament Team.

Match Highlights
Set One

• UIC dug its way out of a 17-11 hole with five-straight tallies to come within one, 17-16, but the Chippewas took the next four to create some distance, 21-18.
• Tatyana Ndekwe came up with a big hit, but Central Michigan answered, 22-18. Brookah Palmer and Paola Santiago gave UIC the next two, but an attack error put the Chippewas two away, 23-20.
• Alexandria Hicks and Glover tallied back-to-back kills to put UIC back within one, and it was Hicks and Glover up at the net with a big block to tie it at 23. Velina Minkova aced to give the Flames the lead, but a following attack error tied the set again.
• Santiago put down a kill, but CMU responded, bringing the match back to a draw at 25.
• Santiago finished off the Chippewas with another kill and an ace, 27-25.

Set Two

• Set two was all UIC, as it built a 19-13 lead and never let up.
• The Chippewas came within five after a kill, 20-15, but the Flames grabbed the next five consecutively to finish the set in dominant form, 25-20, ending the set on a pair of Palmer aces.

Set Three

• The Flames continued their dominance into set three, jumping out to a 19-11 lead. Central Michigan netted a kill, 19-12, but Hicks found the floor the Flames, 20-12. Another CMU kill and another Hicks kill would made it 21-13.
• The Chippewas got the next two of a kill and a UIC error, but that would be all they would get, as the Flames ran away with the next four, thanks to kills from Santiago, Glover and James, as well as a Glover – James block.

Facts & Figures

• Brookah Palmer led the match with 11 kills. The redshirt senior also added four service aces and five digs on defense.
• Kiera James tallied seven kills for the offense, finishing the day with a .455 attack percentage (7k-2e-11a).
• Paola Santiago was solid on both ends, contributing seven kills and eight digs.
• Alexandria Hicks and Michelle Glover each added six kills. Glover also led the squad with six total blocks.
• Marija Borcic handed out 26 assists, followed by Musante with 12.
• The Flames led the way in every statistical category, firing off more kills, 42-33, more digs, 38-33, more assists, 40-32, and more blocks, 7.5-5.

Up Next

• The Flames will return home to Chicago for its home tournament, the UIC Invitational.
• The Flames will face Bradley on Friday, Sept.13 and end the tournament on Saturday, Sept. 14 with Murray State and Sacramento State.