UIC won a thriller over Chicago State to close out the UIC Invitational Saturday afternoon.  After dropping the first set, the Flames won each of the next three by the narrowest of margins to hand the Cougars their first loss of the weekend.

Chicago State threatened to take a 2-0 lead after saving four set points, before the Flames used a timeout to settle themselves.  On the next point, a Paola Santiago kill gave them a 25-23 win in set two.  The teams were deadlocked at 21 in the third set before a 4-2 run gave UIC a 2-1 advantage in the match.  The fourth set went to extra points with the Flames closing out a 26-24 decision to take the match.

The Flames set seasons highs in hitting percentage (.278), kills (61), and assists (60).  Martina Delluchi had a season high 21 kills to go along with 12 digs.  Morgan Kull had 47 assists to set a season high.

UIC got better as the match progressed, hitting .361 and .417 in the last two sets after putting up numbers below .200 in each of the first two.  They made just five errors in sets three and four combined.  They held a 16-10 advantage in blocks for the match.

Jaclyn Oblena matched Delluchi with 12 digs, and Santiago was the third Flame in double digits with 10.

UIC finished the weekend with a 2-1 record at their own invitational.  They will return to action in the Chicagoland Challenge, with matches against city rivals Northwestern, DePaul, and Loyola, next Friday and Saturday.