INDIANAPOLIS – The UIC volleyball team (13-2, 13-1 HL) ended the regular season on a high note on Monday, taking a pair of 3-0 sweeps over IUPUI (0-12, 0-12 HL) to complete their sixth series sweep of the season. UIC's first win of the day marked the 12th conference win of the season, setting a new program record for the Flames, while the second win of the day further extended the feat.

UIC ends the regular season with an impressive 13-1 record in Horizon League play, making them the League's runner-up on the season behind a perfect 14-0 Wright State team. The Flames have secured the No. 2 seed in the Horizon League Championship for the first time since 2012 and will be hosting the No. 3 seed Northern Kentucky on Sunday, March 28 at 1 p.m. CT inside their very own Flames Athletic Center.

Match One Highlights
Set One

• UIC's offense struck early, jumping out to a 18-9 lead in the first frame.
• The Jags picked up three of the next four with an ace and a pair of kills to come within seven, 19-12, but the Flames got right back to it with two kills from Zahria Woodard and a Martina Delucchi ace, 22-12.
• A UIC ball handling error gave the Jags a point, which was followed by a Paola Santiago block to keep the margin at 10, 23-13.
• Two Flames miscues and an IUPUI kill gave the Jags a late 3-0 run, 23-16, but terminations from Becca Oldendorf and Mikala Henderson would end it, 25-16.

Set Two

• The Flames broke an 8-8 tie with an 8-0 run to quickly double up on the Jags, 16-8.
• An IUPUI block broke the streak, but UIC rattled off another four straight thanks to kills from Oldendorf and Henderson as well as a pair of IUPUI attack errors, 20-9.
• The Jags cut the lead to seven with a 4-0 run, 20-13, before three more unanswered UIC points pushed the advantage up to 10, 23-13.
• A Flames service error and a Jaguar kill gave IUPUI a pair, 23-15, but a kill from Jackie Yau allowed the Flames to reach set point, 24-15.
• A late push by the Jags led to a 6-0 run, allowing IUPUI to cut the lead down to just three, 24-21. A Francesca Wagoner kill would end the threat and give UIC the set victory, 25-21.

Set Three

• Set three started as a closer battle, until a 4-1 streak for the Flames gave them a four-point advantage, 18-14.
• The two teams traded kills until UIC was able to bury three-straight feeds to go with a Jaclyn Oblena service ace, 24-17.
• The Jags attempted another late push at set point, getting three points off a trio of UIC miscues, but a surprise kill from Sohila Wafeek stunned IUPUI and ended the set in favor of the Flames, 25-20.

Match One Facts & Figures

• Paola Santiago hit a season-high .400 in the match, putting down a match-high 17 kills.
• Martina Delucchi was in double-double territory, recording nine kills to go with a match-high 14 digs.
• Becca Oldendorf and Mikala Henderson each added eight kills for the offense.
• Jaclyn Oblena turned in 11 digs from the libero position.
• Morgan Kull handed out 21 assists, while fellow setter Sohila Wafeek dished out 16 helpers.
• The Flames had the advantage in kills, 51-27, digs, 46-43 and assists, 43-25. The Jags had the advantage of up at the net, making five blocks to UIC's three.
• UIC ended the match hitting .293 (51k-17e-116a) in the match, while holding IUPUI to a .134 (27k-14a-97a) attack percentage.

Match Two Highlights
Set One

• The Flames picked up right where they left off, jumping out to a 13-4 lead in set one.
• A 5-0 run with kills from Santiago, Henderson and Oldendorf pushed UIC's lead into double figures, 19-6
• UIC's dominance continued, eventually taking a 24-10 lead at set point.
• The Jags got a late 3-0 run off a pair of kills and a UIC miscue, but a Yau termination finished things with a 25-13 win for the Flames.

Set Two

• The Jags fought back from an 8-3 hole to eventually take an 11-9 lead. UIC took four of the next five to turn the tables, 13-12, but the lead switched back into IUPUI's favor, 15-14.
• The two teams continued to trade leads, until a Woodard kill and a pair of IUPUI errors gave the Flames a three-point cushion, 21-18.
• The Jags grabbed the next two more points off a kill and a UIC miscue to pull within one, 21-20.
• UIC polished off the hosts with a 4-0 run to end the set, 25-20.

 
Set Three

• Set three shaped up to be a lot like set two, as the Jags once again fought back from an early deficit to take a 15-14 lead.
• UIC went up by two after taking four the next five, 18-16. Santiago and Wagoner put down kills in the series, while Woodard and Delucchi combined for a block.
• The Jags were within one, 19-18, but an Oldendorf kill, an IUPUI error and a Santiago ace put the Flames on a 3-0 run, 22-18.
• Another Oldendorf termination and another Jags miscue put the Flames at match point, 24-19.
• The home team chipped in two more kills before a termination from Delucchi put the Jags to bed, 25-21.

Set Two Facts & Figures

• Paola Santiago finished out the regular season with her seventh double-double of the season, leading the team in both kills (11) and digs (14).
• Becca Oldendorf hit a team-high .368 with nine kills. The freshman also added a pair of blocks.
• Martina Delucchi brought in five kills, 11 digs and two aces.
• Mikala Henderson contributed eight kills and one block on defense.
• Zahria Woodard turned in four kills, four digs and three total blocks.
• Libero Jaclyn Oblena recorded 10 digs.
• Sohila Wafeek and Morgan Kull once again shared the setting role, recording 19 and 18 assists, respectively. Both setters also contributed a pair of service aces, contributing to the Flames' nine team aces in the match.
• The Flames finished hitting .292 (41k-10e-106a) in the finale, while the Jags hit .186 (35k-16e-102a).
• UIC outblocked the Jags, 5-1.

Up Next

• The Flames will host third-seeded Northern Kentucky in the Horizon League Semifinals on Sunday, March 28 at 1 p.m. CT.