NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Behind strong offensive performances across the board, the UIC volleyball team swept Belmont, 3-0, Saturday evening in Nashville. The victory secures the regular-season sweep for UIC over the Bruins.
 
Martina Delucchi led the way with 15 kills while Paola Santiago added 13. In a balanced offensive effort, UIC's middle blockers of Zahria Woodard, Jackie Yau and Liza Garrido combined for 13 kills to just one attack error.
 
Sohila Wafeek handed out 37 assists while Jaclyn Oblena added a team-leading 10 digs. UIC had a 4-1 edge in service aces and a 8-4 advantage in blocks, with Yau contributing on five total blocks.
 
It was a tightly contested first set, as neither team led by more than two points until a late surge by the Flames. The two teams would trade minimal leads back and forth from the opening serve until a Delucchi kill put UIC in front, 16-15. It would remain tight until a 3-0 run to end the set propelled UIC to a 25-21 victory.
 
With UIC owning a slim 12-11 lead in the second set, a kill out of the middle by Yau kickstarted a 4-0 Flames run to put the visitors in front 16-11. The advantage would be the difference-maker, as UIC would lead by at least two through the remainder of the set to pick up the 25-22 victory.
 
The two teams were tied at 7-all early in the third set before a 10-1 UIC run would put the set, and match, out of reach. UIC opened the run with five consecutive kills, with Woodard and Mikala Henderson picking up two each and one more from Santiago. Following a Bruin kill, five more points would fall to the Flames. Four UIC kills and an ace by Colleen Hege put UIC in front, 17-8, and the Flames cruised to a 25-14 win.
 
UIC returns home for its final two home matches of the season this Friday and Saturday, playing host to Illinois State and Bradley.