CHICAGO (Oct. 8, 2024) – The UIC volleyball team (11-6, 3-2 MVC) couldn't be stopped on the attack Tuesday night, defeating Valparaiso (9-8, 1-4 MVC) in three consecutive sets in Missouri Valley Conference play at Credit Union 1 Arena.
Junior
Cleo Lorenzo (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Elite) led the attack with 12 kills and 10 digs. Freshman
Antonie Kelnárová (Prague, Czech Republic) tallied nine kills, eight digs and a block. Senior
Kayanna Jones (Normal, Ill./Normal West) contributed eight kills in the victory.
The full box score and play-by-play recap against Valparaiso can be found
here.
COMMENT FROM HEAD COACH JUSTIN INGRAM
"As the match was progressing, we started to learn more about Valpo. They were really having success in their opposite position, which hits alongside the right side of the net against our left front blockers. They were hitting for very high efficiency, and they were trying to get them the ball quite a bit. We started to slow them down, having better head-to-head relationships, getting better touches and even stuff blocks. Our defensive pressure continued as the match progressed. Both sides were a bit sloppy at the beginning with some missed serves and a couple of errors. It got cleaner as the match progressed.
Kayanna Jones did an excellent efficient job as an attacker. She did a fantastic job for us. Even our setters, in the times that we could, set the quick, something really important for us to side out.
COMMENT FROM SENIOR KAYANNA JONES
"Coming back to today, we worked really hard in practice, we prepared, we stayed together, and we were confident. I felt like we put ourselves in a great position and we swept Valpo which is exciting. I love doing that with my team, by their side. Looking forward to this weekend, lacing it up against Missouri State and SIU. I know we are going to continue to prepare hard in practice, stay together, stay strong and stay confident."
SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
FLAMES FACTS
- This is UIC's sixth consecutive victory over Valparaiso since joining the Missouri Valley Conference in July 2022.
- Lorenzo has collected 36 kills in the past three matches for the Flames, leading the program averaging 2.46 kills per set.
- Junior setter Francesca Venturini (Bergamo, Italy/ Liceo Classico Paolo Sarpi) collected four service aces against the Beacons. She has collected 14 service aces in the past four matches.
UP NEXT
The Flames complete their five-match home stand over the weekend, starting off with a 6 p.m. (CT) first serve on Friday against Missouri State (7-10, 1-4 MVC). The match will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available at
UICFlames.com.
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