CHICAGO – The UIC volleyball team (9-1, 9-1 HL) completed its fourth Horizon League series sweep of the season on Tuesday, outlasting Oakland (5-5, 5-5 HL) by a score of 3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 25-16, 14-25, 15-7). After dropping the first set, the Flames grabbed wins in sets two and three to go up two sets to one on the Golden Grizzlies. Oakland turned in a strong set four to force the tiebreaker, where the Flames took the first three points and never looked back, finishing the frame with a 15-7 win to gain the ultimate edge over the visitors.

First Set Highlights

• Three Oakland blocks and a pair of kills allowed the Golden Grizzlies to take a 15-9 lead in set one.
• A 5-1 series for the Flames put them just two away, 20-18, before a 3-0 run for Oakland would once more create some room, 23-18.
• UIC made a late push, freezing Oakland at set point and taking four-straight points to within just one point of a tie, 24-23.
• A Flames service error would end the threat and give the Golden Grizzlies the first set, 25-23.

Set Two Highlights

• The Flames got to work in set two, jumping out to a 13-8 lead.
• The visitors built a late threat, pulling within one, 20-19, before kills from Becca Oldendorf and Martina Delucchi gave UIC some insurance, 22-19.
• The two teams traded terminations, 23-21, but back-to-back kills from Mikala Henderson would end it, 25-21 in favor of the Flames.

Set Three Highlights

• UIC wasted no time jumping out to a 7-1 lead, collecting kills as well as a combination block from Oldendorf and Paola Santiago.
• The Golden Grizzlies got as close as five, 18-13, before the Flames picked up two off a Delucchi kill and an Oakland error, 20-13.
• The visitors took thee of the next four, 21-16, but UIC scored the final four consecutively to close out the set with a dominating 25-16 win.

Set Four Highlights

• Oakland turned the tables, taking a sizeable lead early in set four, 15-9.
• Santiago and Delucchi put down kills for the Flames, but a 5-0 Golden Grizzlies run would push their lead to 10, 21-11.
• UIC would get just three more points off a pair of Oakland miscues and a kill from Alexandria Hicks before the Golden Grizzlies would take it, 25-14, tying the match at two sets apiece.

Set Five Highlights

• Oldendorf and Henderson helped the Flames take a 3-0 lead early in the tiebreaker, but back-to-back kills for Oakland made things close, 3-2.
• Delucchi, Henderson and Zahria Woodard helped the Flames make it 7-4, before an Oakland kill made it 7-5.
• A 5-0 run for the Flames put the set out of reach, 12-5.
• The Golden Grizzlies chipped in two more points before UIC ran away with it, 15-7, thanks to kills from Santiago and Sohila Wafeek as well as a Hicks – Oldendorf block.  

Facts & Figures

• UIC utilized a balanced attack on offense with four Flames finishing with double-digit kill performances.
• Mikala Henderson led the offensive attack with a personal-best 13 kills. Henderson also brought in five digs and three total blocks on defense.
• Becca Oldendorf turned in her fifth double-digit kill effort with 11 terminations. The middle blocker also finished with a team-high five total blocks.
• Paola Santiago turned in her second double-double in as many days, collecting 11 kills to go with 16 digs.
• Zahria Woodard recorded her second double-digit kill effort this season with 10 kills. Woodard also added four total blocks on defense.
• Martina Delucchi was near a double-double with nine kills to go with a team-high 22 digs.
• Morgan Kull collected her fifth double-double of the season with 37 assists and 12 digs. Kull also added three service aces.
• Jaclyn Oblena started in the libero position and dug out 18 for the Flames defense. America Galvan matched her personal best with 15 digs.
• The Flames had the advantage in kills, 61-50, as well as digs, 94-84, while the Golden Grizzlies finished with the advantage in blocks, 14-9.
• UIC hit .184 (61k-27e-185a) in the match compared to .126 (50k-27e-182a) for Oakland.

Up Next

• The Flames will finish out their home slate next week on March 8-9 against Green Bay.

Game Recap

 

Highlights