CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The UIC volleyball team had its five-match winning streak come to an end Friday night as the Flames dropped a four-set decision to league-leading Northern Iowa.
 
The Flames took the opening set by a dominating 25-15 margin before the Panthers, who remain unbeaten in league play, claimed the next three sets to take the decision.
 
Mikala Henderson had a match-high 16 kills on an efficient .429 hitting percentage while a pair of Flames recorded double-doubles. Paola Santiago finished with 15 kills and 15 digs to go along with Martina Delucchi's 14 kills and 10 digs.
 
The Flames cruised to an opening-set 25-15 victory behind a relentless defense that held UNI to a .086 hitting percentage. UIC also put the Panthers in the early gap behind a service game that featured aces by Delucchi, Santiago and Sohila Wafeek.
 
After hitting .391 in the opening set, the Flame were held to just a .150 hitting percentage in the second set as Northern Iowa evened the match at 1-all. In the crucial third set, the two teams were tied at 21-all before two straight Panther points put the hosts up, 23-21, forcing a UIC timeout. UIC responded with a kill out of the break but couldn't close the gap, dropping a 25-23 decision.
 
UIC was neck-and-neck with Northern Iowa in the fourth set, with a Colleen Hege ace putting UIC in front, 19-18. The Panthers then stormed back, scoring the final seven points to steal the set, and the match.
 
The Flames remain in Iowa for a Saturday evening match at Drake. First serve is set for 5 p.m.