MILWAUKEE – The UIC volleyball team (6-1, 6-1 HL) saw its six-match win streak come to a close on Monday night, suffering a 3-1 (27-25, 17-25, 19-25, 18-25) setback to Milwaukee (4-3, 4-3 HL). The Flames put together an impressive comeback to take the win in set one but were unable to repeat the performance in the following three sets, dropping their first match of the season.

First Set Highlights

• Milwaukee extended an early 8-6 lead to 13-6 with a 5-0 run. The Flames got to work, going off on a 5-0 run of their own to come back within two, 13-11. Kills from Morgan Kull, Martina Delucchi and Alexandria Hicks as well as an America Galvan ace made up the run for UIC.
• The Panthers snuck in a kill before a Paola Santiago kill and back-to-back blocks allowed the Flames to tie the set at 14. A UIC service error put the advantage with the home team, but another Santiago kill paired up with a Santiago – Becca Oldendorf block to give the Flames their first lead of the set, 16-15.
• The two teams went back-and-forth through the remainder of the set, which came to a tie an additional eight times through the remainder of the frame.
• Two-straight blocks for the Panthers had the Flames facing set point, 25-24. After using their last timeout, UIC completed the comeback, taking the final three points consecutively off a pair of Oldendorf kills and a Milwaukee ball handling error, 27-25.

Second Set Highlights

• The Panthers took another early lead, 9-3. Mikala Henderson and Santiago put down kills and Henderson joined Michelle Glover for a block to put the Flames within three, 9-6, but Milwaukee immediately took the three points back, 12-6.
• A 4-0 run grew the home team's lead to nine, 19-10.
• UIC was unable to summon a comeback, ending its 11-set win streak with a 25-17 loss in set two.

Third Set Highlights

• It was the Flames who got the early lead in set three, 8-5, after a 3-0 run.
• Milwaukee used a timeout to regroup and take the next five and turn the tables, taking a 10-8 lead.
• Kills from Hicks and Delucchi tied the match at 10, but the Panthers took another five unanswered for a 15-10 advantage.
• A pair of 3-0 runs for the home team eventually pushed its lead to nine at set point, 24-15.
• UIC made a late campaign, halting the Panthers at set point and taking four unanswered tallies before a Milwaukee termination ended it, 25-19.  

Fourth Set Highlights

• UIC got another 8-5 lead to start set four, but the Panthers once again made their reply, eventually tying the set at nine.
• Milwaukee pulled ahead off two kills, a block and an ace, 13-10.
• UIC still trailed by three, 16-13, when the Panthers sped off on a 5-0 run to create some space, 21-13.
• The Flames put up another late fight, cutting the lead in half with a 4-0 run, 21-17, but Milwaukee followed with its final three points needed to finish the set, 25-18.

Facts & Figures

• Paola Santiago nearly turned in a double-double, tallying a team-high 10 kills to go with nine digs. Santiago also made four blocks for the defense.
• Morgan Kull turned in her fourth double-double of the season with 29 assists and 12 digs.
• Becca Oldendorf recorded nine kills and a team-high five blocks.
• Martina Delucchi finished with seven kills, while Alexandria Hicks finished with six. Delucchi also picked up 13 digs for the defense.
• Libero Jaclyn Oblena led the defense with 27 digs, a new personal best for the freshman.
• Zahria Woodard made four blocks for the defense.
• The Panthers had the edge in kills, 52-43, as well as in digs, 95-79. Milwaukee also tallied more assists, 48-40. Both teams made an even 10 team blocks.
• The Flames were held to a season-low .081 (43k-29e-172a) hitting percentage in the match. Milwaukee finished the night hitting .200 (52k-20e-160a) as a squad.

Up Next

• The Flames and Panthers will finish out the two-game set tomorrow at 12 p.m. CT.