CHICAGO – As the UIC volleyball team gets set to open the 2021 season on Friday, head coach Justin Ingram announced the newest class of Flames to join the volleyball program for the upcoming season.
 
The signing class features three freshmen and one sophomore who transferred into the program this summer. Additionally, the Flames welcome one student-athlete who joined the program this past spring but did not compete in any matches.
 

 
Salma Abdelhady | Fr. | 6-10 | RS
Cairo, Egypt | Mokattam Private Language School
 
Prep/Personal: Attended Mokattam Private Language School in Cairo, Egypt … Won four Giza titles while competing in Egypt … Won one gold medal and three silver medals in the national championship … Led her team in kills a year ago, averaging 15 kills per match … Ranked third in blocking at the FIVB U18 World Championship in 2019 … Accumulated over 970 kills during her four-year prep career.
 
Coach Ingram on Abdelhady:
"Salma is an opposite attacker who had also played in the middle position in years past. She has world class length and will be an immediate blocking force within the league. We are excited to work with Salma and maximize her potential."
 

 
Kayanna Jones | Fr. | 6-2 | MB
Normal, Ill. | Normal West
 
Prep/Personal: Attended Normal West High School where she was named All-State and All-Conference while competing for the Wildcats … Led team to a Big 12 championship, an Intercity championship in addition to claiming the IHSA regional and sectional titles … Owns the school record for most blocks in a season … Named a scholar athlete and a recipient of the Tri Athlete Award … Led her team to a combined 36-6 record the last two years … A multi-sport athlete, Jones was a four-year letterwinner in basketball and a three-year letterwinner as a sprinter on the track & field team … Daughter of Shawanna Jones … Has one sister who has played collegiate volleyball at Chicago State and Parkland College.
 
Coach Ingram on Jones:
"Kayanna is a fast middle who can attack both in front and behind the setter. Her overall ability as a dynamic athlete will add special elements to our current team. Kayanna's future is very bright and we look forward to what she can bring."
 

 
Jacquelyn Robinson | Fr. | 5-10 | OH
Las Vegas, Nev. | Durango
 
Prep/Personal: Led her program to a state runner-up finish as a junior before her senior season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic … Tabbed as the Player of the Year, Max Prep Player of the Week, First Team All-Southern Nevada, First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region All-Conference First Team by the Review Journal … A member of Durango's Wall of Fame, Robinson ranked second in the state in kills as a junior … Father played basketball at UNLV and in the NBA.
 
Coach Ingram on Robinson:
"Jacquelyn is an outside hitter with the ability to attack the ball with pace. She will add athleticism to our left side attack and am excited to watch her progress."
 

 
Liza Garrido | R-Fr. | 6-2 | MB
Cordoba, Argentina | Instituto Nuestra Señora del Huerto-Cordoba
 
Prep/Personal: Joined the Flames in the Spring of 2021 but did not compete in any matches and retains four years of eligibility … Spent the 2020 season competing in the Argentinian League for Club Atlético River Plate … Previously competed for Atenas Team, helping the team to a second-place finish in Argentina's Champions Cup … Competed in the Boston College Tournament (played in Santiago, Chile), earning a fourth-place finish in 2017 with her first club, ACIC, while being named the best blocker of the tournament … Was a member of her province's u15 team that finished third in the 2016 Argentinian National Championship before competing on the u17 team for two seasons … Her u17 program finished third in 2017 before winning the title in 2018 … Led the u18 program to back-to-back titles in the Binational Games in 2017 and 2018 … A member of the 2017 and 2018 national team, Garrido helped the team to a fourth-place finish in the 2017 Pan-American Cup and a championship finish in the 2018 Foundation Cup.
 
Coach Ingram on Garrido:
"Liza joined the team and began her full-time enrollment January 2021. She is a gifted jumper who will add an attack and block presence to the middle position.  Liza is an experienced blocker and we are excited for her contributions this season."
 

 
Grace Zambrano | So. | 5-6 | S/DS
Wheeling, Ill. | Wheeling | Chicago State
 
Prior to UIC: Attended Chicago State for one year where she started in all 10 matches and dished out 9.82 assists per set to rank second in the WAC and first on the team … Had 30 or more assists in six matches, including a season-best 53 against Tarleton on March 2 … Ranked second on the team with six aces.
 
Prep/Personal: Attended Wheeling High School where she was a four-year letterwinner in volleyball, being named to the 2019 Mid-Suburban League All-Conference Team as well as the All-Academic Excellence Team … Named Honorable Mention honors for the 2019 Daily Herald Northwest Suburbs' All-Area Team … Winner of the 2020 Daily Herald Prep Sports Excellence Award … A multi-sport athlete, Zambrano also competed as a sprinter and long jumper on the track & field program … The daughter of Fernando and Sandra Zambrano, has two brothers, Landon and Brian … Brother Brian plays soccer at Evansville.
 
Coach Ingram on Zambrano:
Grace transferred to UIC after competing as the starting setter at Chicago State.  We are excited to coach Grace and develop her setting and back row abilities.  She is athletic and has the skills to compete at multiple positions.