CHICAGO – The UIC volleyball team closed out non-conference play Saturday with a pair of matches at the annual Chicago Cup. The Flames, the tournament hosts, fell to Northwestern in the team's first match of the day before rebounding with a 3-1 victory over DePaul in the nightcap.
 
Mikala Henderson highlighted action Saturday with a career-high 17 kills in the Flames' win over the Blue Demons after recordin nine in the first match of the day. Paola Santiago recorded a double-double in the evening contest with DePaul, registering 13 kills to go along with a match-high 18 digs.
 
After picking up just five blocks against the Wildcats, the UIC defense responded with 12 to help the team to victory in the final match of the team's home tournament.
 
UIC remains at home and begins Missouri Valley play on Friday, Sept. 23, as the Flames play host Drake. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
 
UIC vs. Northwestern
 
The Flames were unable to overcome a slow start, falling to Northwestern by a 3-0 final. Martina Delucchi led the way with 16 kills and seven digs while Santiago recorded 12 digs.
 
UIC hung around Northwestern early in the opening set, trailing by just a pair at 14-12. The Wildcats then closed out the set on an 11-3 run to take the 1-0 lead in the match.
 
A tightly contested second set followed which featured 10 ties and five lead changes. Zahria Woodard connected out of the middle to tie things up at 20-all, but another surge by Northwestern put the set out of reach, 25-22, to make it 2-0 in favor of the visitors.
 
Northwestern closed out the sweep with a hard-fought 25-23 decision in the third and final set. Another Woodard kill tied the set at 23-all, but a UIC service error and Northwestern ace ended the match.
 
UIC vs. DePaul
 
The Flames rebounded in the nightcap, overcoming a slow start to pick up a 3-1 win. DePaul edged by the Flames in the opener to take a 1-0 lead with a 25-23 decision before the Flames won the final three sets.
 
Henderson was a matchup nightmare for the Blue Demons, as her career-high 17 kills came on a .433 hitting percentage while assisting on four blocks. Woodard led the blocking efforts with a solo block and nine assisted blocks. As a team, six different players recorded at least one block.
 
Santiago collected her team-leading fifth double-double of the season, with her 18 digs setting a new season high.
 
The Flames had to fight their way to a victory over DePaul, as Saturday's match featured a total of 34 tied scores and 13 lead changes, including five lead changes in the fourth and final set.