CHICAGO – UIC overcame a slow opening set Thursday evening to sweep Eastern Illinois, 3-0, in the opening match of the Windy City Invitational. Martina Delucchi led all players with a match-high 19 kills and was one of four UIC attackers with a .400 or higher hitting percentage.
 
The Flames trailed by as many as four points in the opening set and hit just .220 as a team but was able to climb back and take their first lead of the opening set at 20-19. Five of the final seven points scored by UIC in the 25-23 opening set were off the attack of Delucchi.
 
UIC carried the momentum into the second set, cruising to a 25-15 victory to take a 2-0 lead. The Flames recorded 20 kills in the second set alone, connecting at an impressive .567 hitting percentage while limiting the Panthers to just a .125 clip.
 
It was more of the same in the third set as the Flames held Eastern Illinois to a .125 hitting percentage while connecting at a .552 percentage to pull away and claim the 25-19 victory.
 
The Flames return to action Friday afternoon, taking on Pacific at 4 p.m.
 
News and Notes

• UIC was extremely efficient out of the middle, as Zahria Woodard had nine kills at a .500 hitting percentage while Becca Oldendorf added seven kills at a .429 clip. Delucchi (.452) and Paola Santiago (.429) each hit over .400 as well in the match.
• Sohila Wafeek handled the bulk of the setting duties, dishing out 44 of UIC's 52 assists.
• A pair of Flames finished with 10+ digs, as Jaclyn Oblena had 15 while Santiago added 13.