CARBONDALE, Ill. – Behind 19 kills from Paola Santiago and 18 from Martina Delucchi, the UIC volleyball team came back to defeat Southern Illinois in a thrilling five-set victory.
 
Trailing 2-1 in the match, the Flames dominated the fourth set, 25-12, to force a decisive fifth set. In the fourth frame, the Flames hit .429 as a team with 14 kills on just two errors while holding the Salukis to a .071 hitting percentage (8 kills, 6 errors).
 
In the fifth set, the teams traded blows as each squad hit over .400 in the deciding set. The Flames held match point at 14-13 and 15-14 before a Delucchi kill gave UIC its third match point at 16-15. The outside hitter clinched the match at the service line, dishing out her third ace of the match to seal the 17-15 victory.
 
Sohila Wafeek handled a majority of the setting duties, dishing out 40 assists while Francesca Venturini added 10 in relief. Jaclyn Olbena was 1-of-3 Flames to record double-digit kills with 13 while Santiago and Delucchi tallied double-doubles with 12 and 10 digs, respectively.
 
The two teams played a tightly contested first set, with the Salukis scoring the final three points to pull away for the 25-21 victory. UIC evened the match at 1-all heading into the break with a narrow 26-24 triumph. SIU bounced back with a convincing 25-16 victory, putting the Flames on the brink of defeat before the program's turnaround in the final two sets.
 
The Flames dominated the service line, picking up 10 aces to SIU's five and also owned a 7-5 edge in blocks. Jackie Yau, making the start in the middle, picked up four assisted blocks to lead the charge.
 
UIC is back in action, wrapping up a four-match roadtrip on Saturday at Missouri State. First serve is set for 5 p.m.