FORT WAYNE, IND. – Behind career performances from Sohila Wafeek and Paola Santiago, the UIC volleyball team held off Purdue Fort Wayne for a 3-2 victory Sunday afternoon in Fort Wayne.
 
Wafeek, who had a career-best 38 assists in UIC's last match, topped the performance with a 48-assist afternoon while adding six aces from the service line. A native of Cairo, Egypt, Wafeek also led UIC's back line with a team-high 19 digs. The sophomore's top target was Santiago, who registered a career-high 24 kills on a .305 hitting percentage.
 
After Purdue Fort Wayne jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a 25-19 victory, the Flames evened the match with a 25-22 victory in the second set. The Flames built the advantage to 2-1 with a 25-23 decision in the third set before Purdue Fort Wayne tied things up after a 25-18 triumph in the fourth.
 
In the decisive fifth set, UIC jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead and never looked back, picking up the 15-12 decision to start conference play with a 2-0 record.
 
How It Happened – First Set

• The Mastodons stormed out of the gate, opening the match on a 7-1 run and forcing a UIC timeout.
• UIC slowly climbed back, evening the set at 13-all and then taking a lead at 15-13 thanks to a 5-0 Flames run.
• This time, it was the 'Dons' turn to run, using a 8-1 run to jump ahead by a 21-16 margin and eventually close out the 25-19 opening set victory.

 
How It Happened – Second Set

• Wafeek served the Flames to a quick 3-0 lead, dishing out assists to Salma Abdelhady and Santigo while getting her first ace of the match in between.
• The two teams remained neck-and-neck, with things tied up a 21-all before the Flames began to pull away. A pair of Santiago kills and another from Abdelhady gave UIC set point at 24-21. After the 'Dons got one back, Santiago recorded her fifth kill of the set to pull the Flames even at 1-all.

 
How It Happened – Third Set

• UIC was forced to come from behind in the third set. The Flames were forced to call timeout after Purdue Fort Wayne took a 14-10 lead.
• UIC slowly crawled back into the match, eventually evening the score at 21-all after a 'Don attack error.
• Tied at 23-all, Santiago recorded another kill to give the Flames set point and Jaclyn Oblena served up a timely ace to put the Flames one set from victory.

 
How It Happened – Fourth Set

• The Flames looked to wrap things up in the fourth, jumping out to a 4-0 lead thanks to a trio of aces from Wafeek and a Santiago kill.
• Four unanswered points pulled the Mastodons in front by a slim 12-11 advantage. The Flames were able to tie things up a few times shortly after but were unable to regain the lead as Purdue Fort Wayne closed out the 25-18 decision to push things to a fifth and final set.

 
How It Happened – Fifth Set

• UIC came out on fire, scoring the first five points of the set. A pair of Becca Oldendorf kills, along with a kill by Santiago, an ace by Wafeek and a 'Don hitting error gave the Flames the lead they needed.
• Purdue Fort Wayne would pull within one at 7-6 but couldn't get any closer as the Flames maintained its advantage.
• Fittingly, the match ended with Santiago recording a kill from the Wafeek assist.

 
Facts and Figures

• Santiago's career-high and match-high 24 kills are tied for the third most by a Horizon League player this year.
• Wafeek's career-best 48 assists are tied for sixth most among conference players this season.
• Four Flames finished with 10 or more kills. Wafeek's 19 digs led the way while Oblena added 17, Mikala Henderson contributed 11 and Delucchi had 10 to go along with 12 kills for a double-double.