ROCHESTER, Mich. – Playing their first match in 10 days, the UIC volleyball program suffered a tightly contested 3-1 setback at Oakland Friday (Oct. 8) evening.
 
After UIC took the opening set by a 25-18 margin, Oakland evened the score at 1-all with a 25-21 victory in the second set. In a pivotal third set, it took extra points to determine the winner as the Golden Grizzlies squeezed by, 28-26. The two teams played a tightly contested fourth set with Oakland ultimately taking the set, 25-22, and the match by a 3-1 margin.
 
Sohila Wafeek fell two assists shy of matching her career high as the sophomore dished out 46 Friday evening. Paola Santiago was Wafeek's top target with a match-high 18 kills while Martina Delucchi and Mikala Henderson each added 13. Freshman Kayanna Jones made her collegiate debut Friday, finishing with eight kills and four total blocks (1 solo, 3 assist).
 
UIC remains on the road for its next two matches, beginning with a Sunday afternoon contest at Cleveland State.
 
How It Happened

• Trailing for the entire first set, UIC used an 8-0 run to take its first lead of the opening set at 18-14, forcing an Oakland timeout. The Golden Grizzlies were forced to call their second timeout a few points later at 20-15, with little effect as the Flames closed out the opening set.
• The second set bounced back and forth with 12 ties and five lead changes throughout the set. Neither team lead by more than two points until Oakland used a 4-0 run to break a 21-all tie and claim the set, 25-21.
• Extra points were needed to split the 1-all tie in the crucial third set. A kill by Henderson gave the Flames a 20-16 advantage late in the set and UIC held the lead until a Flames attack error evened the score at 22-all. The two teams would trade points up to 26-all before a pair of Oakland points gave the Golden Grizzlies the 28-26 victory.
• It was a game of runs in the fourth, with Oakland jumping out to a 5-0 lead before UIC used a 5-0 run of its own to even things up at 10-all. UIC's lead grew to four at 17-13 before Oakland came back. Tied at 21, the Golden Grizzlies closed out on a 4-1 run to claim the match.

 
Facts and Figures

• Delucchi finished with a double-double, with her 13 kills to go along with a team-high 16 digs.
• Wafeek accounted for 46 of UIC's 53 assists Friday evening.
• It was a closely contested match throughout, featuring 24 ties and nine lead changes.