INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – Behind a career-high 38 assists from Sohila Wafeek and a dominating service game, the UIC volleyball team opened Horizon League play with a 3-1 victory over IUPUI Thursday (Sept. 23) evening.
 
Wafeek topped her previous career high of 31 assists, set on March 1 of this past season, with 38 assists against the Jaguars. The sophomore distributed the offense evenly, as four Flames had 10 or more kills. Becca Oldendorf and Paola Santiago tied for the match high 12 with (with Oldendorf hitting at a .476 clip), while Martina Delucchi added 11 kills and Mikala Henderson contributed 10.
 
As a team, the Flames kept IUPUI's offense out of sync thanks largely to its serving. UIC served up 12 aces in the match, setting a new season high, with Wafeek and Jaclyn Oblena recording three each.
 
UIC took control of the match early, cruising to a 25-14 victory before IUPUI evened things up in the second, 25-20. The Flames bounced back with a 25-22 victory in the third and closed things out, 25-19, in the fourth set.
 
The team remains on the road, traveling to Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday, Sept. 26. First serve is slated for 2 p.m. (CT).
 
How It Happened – First Set

• IUPUI recorded the first point of the game before the Flames scored six unanswered and led for the remainder of the set.
• UIC's defense limited the Jaguars to a -.065 hitting percentage in the opening set while the Flames had its best hitting performance in the opening frame, hitting at a .406 clip. The Flames front line contributed four blocks in the set, with Delucchi recording two solo blocks to lead the way.

 
How It Happened – Second Set

• The second set went back and forth until the Jaguars used a 4-0 run to take a 14-10 lead, leading to a UIC timeout. Another 4-0 Jaguar run kept IUPUI in the lead, this time at 18-14.
• UIC looked to rally, with an ace and a hitting error by IUPUI pulling the Flames within a pair at 19-17. IUPUI withheld the late surge and closed out the set, 25-20, to even things at 1-all.

 
How It Happened – Third Set

• The third set was the most closely contested set, with nine ties and five lead changes before the Flames pulled away late.
• Oldendorf dominated the set, connecting on 5-of-8 attempts (.625), while Wafeek dished out 12 assists.
• Henderson added a pair of aces as UIC continued to build its season-high in aces.

 
How It Happened – Fourth Set

• Despite having its lowest hitting percentage of the match in the fourth set, UIC held off a late push by IUPUI after building an early lead. The Flames' defense limited IUPUI to a .086 hitting percentage to prevent the comeback attempt.
• A 4-1 UIC run put the Flames squarely in front, 20-13, and a Santiago kill ended the match.
• Five players contributed to UIC's 11 kills while Oblena, Delucchi and Wafeek combined for five aces.

 
Facts and Figures

• Santigo recorded a double-double in the match, finishing with 10 digs to go along with her 12 kills.
• UIC doubled up IUPUI in blocks, recording 12 to the Jaguars' six.
• Wafeek had a clean match running the offense, as her 38 assists while committing no errors.
• Zahria Woodard had the best hitting percentage on the team, connecting on 8-of-13 attacks while recording no errors.