CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (Sept. 30, 2023) – The UIC volleyball team (12-6, 3-2 MVC) put forth a valiant effort Saturday night on the road at defending Missouri Valley Conference champion UNI (10-6, 4-0 MVC), but the Flames ultimately came up on the short end of a 3-1 decision at the McLeod Center.
 
COMMENT FROM UIC HEAD COACH JUSTIN INGRAM
 
"We entered the match with good discipline and served well as the first set unfolded. We were up 23-21 with a free ball that was sent our way and we were not able to capitalize on the play. Opportunities like these do not often present themselves against talented teams and we needed to take advantage of this. We presented a good middle attack and Martina was solid as well, but against the top teams in the league, we need more attackers to be near their averages for us to have a chance to win these bigger matches."
 
FIRST SET (27-25, UNI)

• Two kills early on from senior Zahria Woodard (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest) kept the Flames within reach of the Panthers, 7-5.
• The Flames tied the score at 10-10 behind a 4-1 rally with kills from Woodard, senior Martina Delucchi (La Plata, Argentina/San Cayetano) and Becca Oldendorf (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township).
• After an attack error from the Panthers gave the Flames their first lead of the match, that was extended to 13-11 on UIC's first ace of the match from senior setter Sohila Wafeek (Cairo, Egypt/Al Gomhorya Language School).
• Trading the lead back-and-forth, another ace for UIC from sophomore Francesca Venturini (Bergamo, Italy/Liceo Classico Paolo Sarpi) put the Flames back in front, 17-16.
• Freshman Gabi Peter (Gilbert, Ill./Hampshire) collected her second kill of the match to inch UIC closer to winning the set 23-20.
• Kills from Oldendorf and sophomore Cleo Lorenzo (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Elite) pushed the set to extra points before UNI prevailed, 27-25.

 
SECOND SET (25-22, UNI)

• Oldendorf delivered UIC's third ace of the match to give the Flames an early 2-1 lead in the set.
• After UNI held most of the early lead in set two, UIC sophomore Ayat Amin (Cairo, Egypt/Al Waha International School) and Delucchi each collected kills to help draw the Flames even at 13-13.
• Oldendorf's fifth kill of the night kept the score tied 17-17.
• Delucchi tallied her 10^th and 11^th kill of the night before the Panthers just found enough space to close out the set and go up 2-0 in the match.

 
THIRD SET (25-22, UIC)

• Freshman Za'Niyah Boyles (Columbia, S.C./Gray Collegiate) caught fire early on the attack with four kills.
• The tandem of Boyles and Oldendorf collected back-to-back blocking assists to tie it up 8-8.
• Two kills each from Peter and Delucchi gave UIC the lead entering the middle of the set. 
• Boyles' fifth kill of the set force a UNI timeout with the Flames leading 20-15.
• A 4-0 rally from UNI late in the set was thwarted by Oldendorf's eighth kill of the match with the Flames holding to a 21-19 lead.
• The Flames earned their first set victory behind Delucchi's 16^th kill of the night.

 
FOURTH SET (25-17, UNI)

• After a 5-0 rally from UNI began the set, Oldendorf's ninth kill of the night broke up the momentum and got UIC on the board.
• Two more kills from Delucchi brought UIC within 6-4.
• Peter's sixth kill of the night ended a 4-0 rally for the Panthers and brought UIC within 15-10 midway through the set.
• Delucchi's 19^th kill was UIC's last point of the set before UNI secured the win.

 
UP NEXT FOR THE FLAMES
After a long week on the road, the Flames return home to the Credit Union 1 Arena next weekend for more MVC play. At 6 p.m. Friday, the Flames will host Bradley (7-10, 0-4 MVC) for their Dig Pink Game to bring awareness to breast cancer and to honor those in the fight.
 
At 5 p.m. Saturday, UIC faces Illinois State (4-12, 2-2 MVC) in the Sparky's Kids Club Match, where members of Sparky's Kids Club will be in attendance to enjoy fun and games with Sparky!
 
Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Terry Bonadonna on the call. Live stats will also be available as well at UICFlames.com
 
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

• 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).