EVANSVILLE, IND. – The No.3 seeded UIC Flames season ended Tuesday night after being swept 3-0 against the No. 2 Drake Bulldogs (26-6, 16-2) at Meeks Family Fieldhouse in the Semi Finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Championship.


 Early in the first set, each team traded point-for-point throughout until the Bulldogs took a narrow 12-11 lead going into a timeout. The Bulldogs came back from the break outscoring the Flames 13-7 to secure the first set. The Flames' self-made errors began to pile as the set progressed, finishing with 11 attacking and three serving errors.

 In the second set, the Flames continued with serving error woes, leading to an early lead by the Bulldogs, but the Flames bridged the gap to tie the set at 18. The Bulldogs kept the Flames at-bay for the rest of the second set, winning it 25-21.

 The Flames came out looking red hot in the third set, leading early on with a three-point lead, their biggest lead of the game. The Bulldogs regained their ground later in the set, eventually tying things up at 17-all.  Drake fended off the Flames to win the match in the third set, 25-21.

 The Flames were led by Martina Delucchi, who finished the match with 17 kills and 5 digs. Paola Santiago finished her career with the Flames with 11 kills and 12 digs. Libero Jaclyn Oblena also finished with 10 digs. Sohila Wafeek ended her night with 40 assists.

 The Flames conclude their inaugural season in the MVC finishing 22-10 overall, and 13-5 in league play.