CHICAGO – Becca Oldendorf matched a season high with 13 kills, one shy of her career best, as the UIC volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to Evansville Saturday evening.
 
The middle hitter was extremely efficient in the match, recording 13 kills on just one error to finish with a .667 hitting percentage. The junior also added a solo block and assisted on three additional blocks to contribute 15.5 points for the Flames.
 
Oldendorf was 1-of-3 Flames to tally double-digit kills. Martina Delucchi had a team-high 15 to go along with 10 digs for a double-double while Paola Santiago added 12 kills. Sohila Wafeek matched Delucchi with a double-double, finishing with 45 assists and 10 digs.
 
It was a back-and-forth opening set, with the two teams knotted up at 16-all midway through the set. The Purple Aces proceeded to go on a 7-2 run to build a 23-18 lead, forcing UIC to burn both timeouts during the run. Oldendorf and Mikala Henderson teamed up on a block to end the run, but back-to-back kills from Evansville ended the 25-19 opening set.
 
UIC dominated the second set to pull away and cruise to a 25-15 victory. Leading 10-8, a Delucchi kill sparked a 13-3 run to take a commanding 23-11 lead. Evansville tacked on a few points late but UIC got a kill on the outside from Santiago to even the match at 1-all.
 
Three-straight UIC points pulled the Flames within two at 18-16 in the third set, but Evansville countered with four unanswered to jump out to a 22-16 advantage. The Purple Aces would go on and close out the 25-18 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
It came down to the wire in the fourth set, which Evansville ultimately claimed. The teams traded points throughout, with Oldendorf recording a timely kill out of the middle to even the set up at 23-all. Evansville's block came through in the clutch, recording back-to-back blocks to end the match at 25-23 in the final set.
 
UIC hits the road next weekend for rematches against Murray State and Belmont.