CHICAGO (Nov. 11, 2023) – The UIC volleyball team (19-11, 10-7 MVC) prevailed in a four-set battle against Drake (21-8, 14-3 MVC) on Saturday, winning the final three sets to defeat the Bulldogs for the second time this season on Senior Night at Credit Union 1 Arena.
COMMENT FROM HEAD COACH JUSTIN INGRAM
"There were times at the beginning of it that the errors were piling up and we weren't putting points together. As the match continued, we were having more success challenging and controlling the blocks. We feel very fortunate that we were digging and transitioning. Our players started to become more confident and more efficient, piling up all those points in a row and that of course helped the match as it continued.
COMMENT FROM SENIOR OUTSIDE HITTER MARTINA DELUCCHI
"The best part of the match was how we were able to bounce back after that first set. As a group, we were all connected, and all played well as a group together. I think it was a great win to get going against Valparaiso on Wednesday.
FIRST SET (25-19, DU)
- A tandem block from seniors Martina Delucchi (La Plata, Argentina/San Cayetano) and Becca Oldendorf (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) was soon followed by the Flames' first kill of the night from senior Zahria Woodard (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest), but UIC trailed early at 5-2.
- A 7-0 rally from the Bulldogs was stopped by a kill from Gabi Peter (Gilbert, Ill./Hampshire) as the Flames trailed 12-3.
- Senior Mikala Henderson (St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael Albertville) collected her first kill of the match and followed that with a block alongside Oldendorf to pull UIC within 13-6.
- After a Bulldogs' ace, the Flames responded with a pair of kills from Delucchi and Oldendorf (17-10).
- Delucchi tallied the Flames' first ace of the match to cut Drake's lead to 20-14.
- A pair of aces from senior Sohila Wafeek (Cairo, Egypt/Al Gomhorya Language School) and Jaclyn Oblena (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) brought UIC closer at 21-16.
- The Flames' final kill of the set came from Woodard (her third) before the Bulldogs closed out the set victory.
SECOND SET (25-20, UIC)
- Kills from Woodard and Oldendorf gave the Flames their first lead of the match at 3-2 early in the second set.
- After Drake pulled in front, the Flames answered with a 5-0 rally, highlighted by two more kills from Henderson to tie the set at 9-9.
- Delucchi's fifth and sixth kills of the match propelled the Flames ahead of the Bulldogs, 18-17.
- After a timeout from Drake, the Flames extended their lead with four more points behind two blocks and a kill from Woodard (22-17).
- After Delucchi's second ace of the night forced a set point, Peter's third kill of the night earned the Flames their first set victory.
THIRD SET (28-26, UIC)
- Trading point-for-point early on, Henderson's sixth kill of the night gave the Flames the edge early on at 5-4.
- Oldendorf's eighth kill of the night caught a Bulldogs' defender off-guard as the ball sailed out of bounds off the ricochet to keep the Flames ahead, 12-7.
- Peter's sixth kill of the match carried the Flames into the media timeout with an 15-11 lead.
- After the Bulldogs took a lead late into the set, tandem blocks from Woodard/Delucchi and Woodard/Peter tied it up at 23-23 and forced Drake to call timeout.
- It took three set points, but back-to-back attack errors from Drake's Macy Daufeldt earned the Flames their second consecutive set victory.
FOURTH SET (25-19, UIC)
- Delucchi's first two kills of the set highlighted a 3-0 UIC run to start off the fourth set.
- Drake's Kacie Rewerts was denied at the net by Woodard, collecting her first solo block of the night (5-1).
- Back-to-back kills from Peter forced a Drake timeout as the Flames remained ahead at 11-8.
- The Bulldogs used a 3-0 run to tie the score, but UIC regained the lead at 17-16 on kills from Delucchi and Woodard.
- Inches away from touching the ground, sophomore Francesca Venturini (Bergamo, Italy/Liceo Classico Paolo Sarpi) set the ball in Delucchi's path, forcing her to hit the ball flat-footed. However, the UIC senior hit a crafty shot to find an empty spot in the Bulldogs' defense, collecting her 16th kill of the match as UIC remained ahead, 19-17.
- Back-to-back blocks from Woodard/Peter and Woodard/Henderson pushed the Flames to the brink of a match win.
- A few points later, Henderson's 11th kill of the night sealed the hard-earned Flames' victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Drake becomes the second MVC opponent this season (along with Bradley) that UIC has swept.
- Four Flames recorded 10-plus kills in the win tonight: Delucchi (17), Henderson (11), Woodard (10) and Oldendorf (10).
- Peter's nine-kill performance was her highest total since the Flames faced off against Missouri State on Oct. 20, when she 11 tallied kills. Peter finished with a .467 hitting percentage against the Bulldogs, her best against an MVC opponent this season.
THANK YOU SENIORS
- After the victory, 10 seniors who have been a part of the UIC volleyball program were honored in a post-match ceremony.
- Surrounded by their family and friends with a plaque in hand, they were greeted by the coaching staff to celebrate their contributions to the program.
- Among those recognized were Grace Zambrano (Wheeling, Ill./Chicago State), Jackie Yau (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy), Abigail Sunga (Fontana, Calif./ St. Luicy's Priory), Amelia Sunga (Fontana, Calif./ St. Luicy's Priory), as well as Henderson, Oblena, Delucchi, Wafeek, Woodard and Oldendorf. [CK1]
UP NEXT FOR THE FLAMES
The Flames return to Credit Union 1 Arena Wednesday for their regular season finale against Valparaiso (18-12, 10-7 MVC) with first serve scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT). The match will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available at
UICFlames.com.
THE PLAYOFF PICTURE
- With one match remaining in MVC play, the Flames are now tied for the third seed in the MVC Tournament with Valparaiso and Southern Illinois (18-10, 10-7 MVC).
- Depending on results during the final night of the regular season, UIC could be seeded as high as No. 3 and as low as No. 6 for the conference tournament, with the No. 3-4 seeds earning a bye into the quarterfinals. The 2023 MVC Tournament will be played Nov. 19-22 in Springfield, Mo., at Missouri State's Hammons Student Center.
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