CHICAGO – The UIC volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision Friday night to Drake in the Flames' inaugural conference match as members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
Becca Oldendorf was one of two Flames to record 13 kills on the night, setting a season high in the process and falling one kill shy of her career high of 14. Martina Delucchi was the second Flame with 13 kills and added a double-double in the match with 11 digs.
 
The Flames opened up the match to a 4-0 lead behind a trio of kills and an ace by Sohila Wafeek. The Bulldogs would climb back and pull ahead a 9-8. Following a UIC kill to even the set at 9-all, an 8-2 Drake run would put the visitors in front by a six-point margin. The Flames would get as close as three, but couldn't close the gap any further, falling 25-21.
 
UIC bounced back with its best set of the night in the second set, claiming a  25-22 victory. As a team, UIC hit .303 in the set, its highest hitting percentage of any set Friday. It was a back-and-forth affair, with there being 19 ties and seven lead changes in the set.
 
Drake held a 22-21 lead before UIC ripped off the final four points to claim the set. Three consecutive Bulldog attack errors put UIC at set point, 24-22, before a kill by Zahria Woodard ended the set.
 
The Flames were unable to carry the momentum past the intermission, as Drake claimed the final two sets by 25-19 and 25-20 scores, respectively.
 
UIC has a quick turnaround as Northern Iowa comes to Chicago Saturday evening. First serve inside the Flames Athletic Center is slated for 5 p.m.
 
News and Notes

• Delucchi's double-double was her fourth of the season. She has recorded 10 or more kills in all but two matches this season.
• As a team, the Flames served up seven aces Friday, with Francesca Venturini and Delucchi recording two each.
• Four Flames were in double figures in kills. In addition to Oldendorf and Delucchi with 13 each, Henderson and Paola Santiago had 10 apiece.