CHICAGO – Paola Santiago had her best match of the season Friday afternoon to propel UIC to a 3-1 victory over Pacific in the second day of action at the Windy City Invitational, hosted by Chicago State.
 
Santiago finished with a match-high and season-high 22 kills on a .409 hitting percentage. The outside hitter recorded her first double-double of the year with 12 digs. She was one of four Flames to record 10 or more digs, with Martina Delucchi leading the way with 16 while Wafeek added 10 and Jaclyn Oblena contributed 12. Wafeek also had a double-double as she led the setting efforts with 38 assists.
 
The Flames battled their way to an opening-set victory, 25-22. After UIC jumped out to a 4-1, Pacific used a 5-0 run to take an 8-10 lead. The teams would trade shots, with the set scored getting tied up at 11-all, 13-all, 14-all, 15-all and 16-all. The Flames used three unanswered points to take an 18-16 lead, forcing a Pacific timeout, but the Tigers responded with a 5-2 scoring run to jump ahead, 21-20. UIC rallied back, scoring five of the final six points to take the set, with a emphatic block by Martina Delucchi and Becca Oldendorf sealing the set.
 
Pacific jumped out to a big lead to start the second set, building an advantage as large as eight at 15-7, but the Flames climbed back even at 16-all thanks largely to Santiago. The outside hitter had four kills and assisted on a block during the 9-1 Flames run. The set would remain in the balance until a late surge by Pacific closed out the 25-21 decision in the second frame.
 
It was all UIC in the third set as the Flames opened to an 8-3 lead and never looked back, cruising to a 25-16 victory. The Flames' defense was relentless in the third set, holding Pacific to a .034 hitting percentage.
 
The Flames were forced to come from behind in the deciding fourth set after the Tigers took a 12-7 lead and force the Flames into a timeout.  In a match that featured countless scoring runs, it was a 7-3 UIC scoring spree that pulled the Flames within one at 14-15.
 
The set-defining run was started when Santiago connected on three straight kills to pull the match even at 17-all and kickstart a 9-1 run to put the Flames two points from victory at 23-18. The Tigers would pull within a pair at 24-22, but Delucchi's kill would put an end to the match with the 25-22 UIC victory.
 
The Flames look for a tournament title Saturday afternoon when they face tournament hosts Chicago State. First serve is set for 2:30.
 
News and Notes

• The Flames recorded 11 blocks in the match, with Oldendorf having a hand in seven of them with one solo and six assisted blocks.
• UIC served up five aces in the match, led by Delucchi's pair.
• The Flames' defense limited Pacific to a .171 hitting percentage, forcing the Tigers to commit 31 errors in the match.