DEKALB, Ill. – The UIC volleyball team opened the 2022 campaign in stellar fashion, posting a perfect 2-0 record on first day of the Huskie Invitational. The Flames had to fight back from a 2-1 deficit in the opening match to come back and defeat South Dakota State, 3-2, before sweeping NJIT in the second match of the day.
 
Martina Delucchi led the way with pair of double-digit kill efforts while Sohila Wafeek and Francesca Venturini split the setting duties to the tune of a combined 76 assists on the day.
 
Friday marked the UIC debut for a trio of Flames as freshmen Cleo Lorenzo, Colleen Hege and Lorenzo all appeared in a match for the first time with the Flames.
 
UIC will look to pick up the tournament title on Saturday, rounding out action against tournament hosts Northern Illinois. First serve is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
UIC 3, South Dakota State 2
 
The Flames rallied in their season-opening match, winning the final two sets to take a 3-2 victory over the Jackrabbits. UIC held SDSU to a negative hitting percentage in the first set, helping the Flames pick up a 25-19 victory. South Dakota State rallied with matching 25-20 victories in the second and third set, putting UIC on the ropes.
 
Behind the strong play of Venturini, UIC rallied with a dominating 25-15 victory in the fourth set to force a decisive fifth and final frame. After taking a slim 8-7 lead into the changeover, the Flames pulled away late to secure the 15-10 decision.
 
Delucchi fell three kills shy of matching her career high, finishing with a match-leading 21 kills to go along with 13 digs for the double-double. Venturini, who came off the bench in the second and third sets, entered as UIC's setter to start the fourth set and finished the match with a match-high 27 assists. Jaclyn Oblena anchored the defense with a team-leading 21 digs.
 
News and Notes

• Venturini, who did not play in the opening set, came off the bench in the second and third sets and picked up three and four assists, respectively. The freshman, making her UIC debut, started the fourth set and led the team to a crucial set victory with eight assists before exploding with 12 assists in the final set.
• Delucchi was 1-of-3 Flames to record a double-double. Paola Santiago finished with 14 kills and 11 digs while Venturini added 12 digs to go along with her 27 assists. Becca Oldendorf was the third player to finish with double-digit kills, ending the first match of the season with 11 kills and a .455 attack percentage.
• Zahria Woodard led UIC's blocking efforts with a solo block while assisting on five additional blocks. As a team, the Flames picked up eight total blocks.
• Lorenzo was the second Flame to make their UIC debut in the match, picking up a kill and an ace along with four digs and an assisted block.
• Dating back to the end of last season, the last five UIC victories have all been by 3-2 margins.

 
UIC 3, NJIT 0
 
The Flames picked up a decisive sweep in the second match of the day, taking down NJIT by a 3-0 margin. After the two teams were tied at 13 midway through the opening set, UIC used a 7-3 run to pull away and eventually pick up the 25-19 victory.
 
The Flames carried the momentum into the second set and cruised to a 25-16 victory before closing out the sweep with a 25-19 decision.
 
UIC offense was in control all match, connecting at a .320 clip while limiting the Highlanders to a .167 hitting percentage for the match. Hege made her Flames debut in the match, recording a pair of kills to go along with four digs and an ace.
 
News and Notes

• Delucchi led the way for the second match in a row with a match-high 16 kills.
• Wafeek dished out a match-high 22 assists while Venturini added 12. Delucchi led a balanced defensive effort with eight digs. In total, nine different Flames recorded at least one dig.
• Eleven different players appeared in the match.