CHICAGO (Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024) – The UIC volleyball team (10-4, 2-0 MVC) returns to Credit Union 1 Arena for the first time in three weeks to open a five-match home stand against fellow Missouri Valley Conference members Drake (6-7, 2-0 MVC) and UNI (7-7, 2-0 MVC) beginning Friday night.
 
Each match will be available to stream on ESPN+ with live stats available on UICFlames.com. Admission is free to every volleyball match at Credit Union 1 Arena with doors opening an hour before first serve.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
Friday, Oct. 4
vs. Drake (6-7, 2-0 MVC)
Time: 6 p.m. (CT)
ESPN+
Live Stats
 
Saturday, Oct. 5
vs. UNI (7-7, 2-0 MVC)  
Time: 5 p.m. (CT)
ESPN+
Live Stats
 
SCOUTING DRAKE

• This will be the 14^th match-up between the Flames and the Bulldogs. UIC won in two out of the three matchups a season ago, with Drake winning its final match in the Semifinals of the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference Championship last November.
• Junior Cleo Lorenzo (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Elite) collected a collegiate-high 15 kills to contributing to UIC's five-set victory over Drake at the Knapp Center in September 2023.
• The Bulldogs have won four of their past five matches, including sweeps in MVC play against Missouri State (6-9, 0-3 MVC) and Southern Illinois (8-6, 1-2 MVC) last weekend at home.

 
SCOUTING UNI

• This is the 16^th matchup between both programs. The Flames are aiming for their first victory against the Panthers since Sept. 2015 when UIC defeated UNI in five sets in the All-American Classic Tournament in Indianapolis, Ind.
• The reigning 2023 Missouri Valley Conference champions sit with a .500 record entering the weekend. After going 5-7 in non-conference play, UNI tallied back-to-back three match sweeps against the Bears and Salukis last weekend to start conference play.
• Senior Kira Fallert is among the top attackers in the Valley, ranked fourth in kills per set (3.73). She has collected 183 kills in over 49 sets played this season for UNI.

 
LAST WEEK RECAP

• The Flames opened up conference play on the road, collecting a three-match sweep against Indiana State (3-11, 0-2 MVC) and a four-set win against Evansville (2-12, 1-1 MVC) last weekend.
• Freshman Antonie Kelnárová (Prague, Czech Republic) led the Flames' attack on the Sycamores with 13 kill and a pair of aces in the victory. Her efforts throughout the weekend earned the outside hitter Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week.
• Graduate student Zahria Woodard (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest) collected her eighth double-digit kill performance of the season with 13 kills and five blocks in the win against Evansville.
• Junior setter Francesca Venturini (Bergamo, Italy/ Liceo Classico Paolo Sarpi) set a collegiate-high seven service aces against the Aces Saturday night, leading the Flames to a season-high 12 team service aces in the match.

 
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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).
 


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