NORMAL, Ill. – Trailing by a 2-0 margin to the No. 25 team in the country, the UIC volleyball team battled back against Marquette to force a fifth set in the opening match of the Red & White Invitational. UIC's comeback attempt fell just short, as the Golden Eagles took the 3-2 decision Friday (Sept. 3) evening.
 
Paola Santiago led all players with a game-high 17 kills while two Flames recorded double-doubles. Martina Delucchi added 10 kills to go along with 16 digs while Morgan Kull dished out a team-high 23 assists in addition to her 13 digs.
 
UIC (1-3), who held leads in the first two sets, were unable to capitalize on the early advantages and found themselves in a 2-0 deficit. Undeterred, the Flames battled back to take the third and fourth sets by identical 25-20 scores to force a fifth and final set.
 
In the deciding set, UIC jumped out to an early 4-2 lead before Marquette used a 5-1 run to take a 7-5 lead and force a timeout by the Flames. UIC responded with a Delucchi kill out of the timeout to pull within one, but two more points by the Golden Eagles pushed the advantage to three. Marquette would win five of the final six points to close out the match, ending UIC's bid at an upset.
 
The Flames close out the Red & White Invitational on Saturday with a pair of matches. UIC will face Illinois State, the tournament hosts, at 11 a.m. before a 6 p.m. match against Ohio.
 
Facts and Figures

• Three Flames finished with 10 or more Kills, with Santiago finishing with 17 while Delucchi and Becca Oldendorf adding 10.
• UIC forced the decisive fifth set thanks to stifling defense. In the fourth set, the Flames forced Marquette to have a negative hitting percentage. The Golden Eagles finished the set with 11 digs to go along with 13 errors on 38 total attacks to finish with a -.053 hitting percentage.
• Kull was one of two Flames to finish with double-digit assists. Sohila Wafeek added 16 assists while falling one dig shy of a double-double with nine.
• UIC's front line caused problems for Marquette's attack all night long. As a team, the Flames recorded 14 blocks, a season high. Oldendorf was in on eight blocks while Santiago factored in on seven rejections.
• Friday match featured 18 tied scores and seven different lead changes throughout the five sets.
• Friday marked UIC's first five-set match of the season and first match against a ranked opponent.