CHICAGO -- The red-hot UIC volleyball team returns to action this weekend with a pair of matches in the state of Iowa.

FIRST SERVE
• The Flames open the weekend Friday night at league-leading Northern Iowa before rounding out the weekend at Drake on Saturday evening. The matches are set for 6 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.
• The Panthers and Bulldogs are the first two teams the Flames will have faced twice this year. UIC is looking for revenge, as the team's two conference losses came at the hands of Northern Iowa and Drake to open MVC play. Northern Iowa remains perfect in MVC play at 7-0 while Drake is in a three-way tie for second with UIC and Valparaiso at 5-2.
• Head coach Justin Ingram became the fourth coach in UIC history to notch 100 career wins with the Flames with the team's 3-1 win over Illinois State on Oct. 2. In his sixth year at the helm of the program, Ingram is now 102-58 all-time with the Flames.
• In UIC's 3-0 sweep of Valparaiso on Monday, Sept. 26, the Flames picked up their first-ever conference win as members of the MVC. UIC did so in impressive fashion, holding the Beacons to their lowest hitting percentage (-.010) in a match since Sept. 1, 2000.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE U(IC)
• The Flames picked up a big win at the UCF Invitational, upsetting Miami, 3-1, in the opening round of competition.
• The Hurricanes entered the weekend as the first team outside the Top-25 in the latest AVCA national rankings.
• The win marked UIC's first win against a Power 5 opponent since defeating Indiana, 3-2, on Sept. 12, 2014.

IN-STATE WINS
• The Flames improved to 5-2 in games against in-state opponents with a weekend sweep of Bradley and Illinois State.
• UIC went 3-2 in non-conference play, defeating Chicago State, Loyola and DePaul. 
• The Flames have won their last three in-state matches after winning against Bradley and Illinois State.