CHICAGO -- The UIC volleyball team begins its march towards a second consecutive berth to the NCAA Tournament this week as the Flames travel to Evansville, Indiana, for the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference Championship.

FIRST SERVE
• The Flames earned the No. 3 seed in the field and will begin their tournament run on Monday, Nov. 21 against the winner of Sunday's No. 6 Valparaiso/No. 7 Murray State first-round contest.
• The Flames enter the tournament on the hot streak, having won their final five matches entering postseason play. Four of the five wins came via 3-0 sweeps, while their fifth win was a 3-1 decision. It is the second time this season the Flames have a five-match winning streak, with both streaks coming during MVC play.
• 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 109-61 all-time with the Flames.

FOUR FLAMES EARN ALL-MVC HONORS
• In their inaugural season as members of the Missouri valley Conference, four Flames were named All-MVC as the league office announced its yearly award winners.
• Paola Santiago and Sohila Wafeek picked up All-MVC First Team accolades while Martina Delucchi and Zahria Woodard were named All-MVC Second Team.
• Santiago picks up her third consecutive First Team recognition, dating back to UIC's time in the Horizon League while Delucchi snags her second All-League honor in row. For Wafeek and Woodard, this marks their first team earning All-League distinction.

DELUCCHI REACHES 1K
• Martina Delucchi became the second active player on UIC's roster to surpass 1,000 career kills when she recorded 10 in a 3-0 sweep over Murray State on Nov. 13.
• She is the 19th player in program history to reach the milestone and is currently 18th all-time with her 1,029 kills.

RECORD WATCH
• In her final season with the Flames, Paola Santiago is climbing UIC's career kills list. The Puerto Rico native is currently third all-time with 1,567 career kills.
Name Kills
1. Kathy Bay (1981-84) 1,906
2. Teaha Shepperd (2000-03) 1,646
3. Paola Santiago (2018-pres.) 1,567
3. Dee Dee Ericks (1987-89) 1,557
5. Kelsey Safranek (2009-12) 1,540
• Santiago currently ranks 21st among active Division I players with her 1,567 career kills.
• Entering the 2022 season, Santiago had 1,226 kills and 1,038 digs, becoming the 10th player in UIC history, and first since 2008, to be part of the 1,000-kill/1,000-dig club.