CHICAGO (Nov. 10, 2023) – The UIC volleyball team (18-11, 9-7 MVC) battled hard, but wound up short end of a 3-0 decision against defending Missouri Valley Conference champion UNI (22-6, 16-0 MVC) on Friday night at Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
 FIRST SET (25-21, UNI)

• The Flames started the set off on an early 6-3 lead, highlighted by the first ace of the match from senior Martina Delucchi (La Plata, Argentina/ San Cayetano).
• A trio of kills from Delucchi, senior Zahria Woodard (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest) and Mikala Henderson (St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael Albertville) kept the Flames ahead entering the middle of the set (10-6).
• The Panthers' attack was no match for senior Becca Oldendorf (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township), who collected the Flames' first solo block of the match as UIC remained ahead, 13-10.
• Henderson kept the Flames' lead at three (17-14) when her attack was tipped but never recovered to earn the senior her second kill of the set.
• After UNI put together a rally to pull even at 18-18, Oldendorf posted her third kill of the set, followed by a tandem block from Woodard and sophomore Cleo Lorenzo (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Elite) to help the Flames retake the lead (20-18).
• Woodard's third kill of the set kept things close for the Flames at 22-21, but the Panthers closed out the set by scoring seven of the final eight points, including three in a row.

 
SECOND SET (25-12, UNI)

• Oldendorf registered her team-leading fourth kill to get the Flames on the scoreboard first in the second set.
• A pair of kills from Delucchi kept the Flames within reach early on, trailing just 4-3.
• The Flames responded to an 8-0 run from Northern Iowa with a trio of kills from Henderson, Lorenzo, and freshman Za' Niya Boyles (Columbia, S.C./Collegiate Gray Academy).
• Lorenzo added two more kills to lead the Flames in the set with three. The Flames remained behind at 19-10.
• Woodard's fourth kill of the match was UIC's final point before the Panthers won their second consecutive set.

 
THIRD SET (25-20, UNI)

• The Flames and Panthers were tied three different times early in the third set, the last after Henderson's fifth kill of the match evened the score at 8-8.
• Sophomore setter Francesca Venturini (Bergamo, Italy/ Liceo Classico Paolo Sarpi) found a hole in the Panthers' defense to collect her lone kill of the match and create the sixth tie of the set at 11-11.
• UIC edged back in front at 17-15 on Henderson's sixth kill of the match.
• After a 3-0 rally put the visitors back in front, a bad set from UNI and a kill from Lorenzo once more tied the score, this time at 18-18.
• Delucchi's 10^th and final kill of the match kept UIC within reach at 23-20 before the Panthers secured the match victory a few points later.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Breaking into double digits in kills, Delucchi has collected 10+ kills in four of the last five matches for the Flames.
• Venturini led the team with 17 assists against the Panthers. The sophomore now has 709 assists in the season, leading the Flames.
• Oldendorf posted a .300 hitting percentage against UNI and remains atop the MVC with a .415 season hitting percentage.
• Woodard recorded five blocks against UNI and continues to lead The Valley with 150 blocks this season.

 
UP NEXT FOR THE FLAMES

• The Flames remain at home Saturday to host Drake (21-7) at 5 p.m. (CT) at Credit Union 1 Arena. UIC will be recognizing past and present military members throughout the match as part of its Veterans Day ceremonies. It will also be Senior Night, with the Flames' 10 seniors to be celebrated in a post-match ceremony.
• The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Leo Staudaher on the call. Live stats will be available at UICFlames.com.

 
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• For more information, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_Volleyball and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_volleyball and @uicflames).