FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 31, 2024) – Graduate student middle blocker
Zahria Woodard (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest) posted a team-high 17 kills to lead four UIC players in double figures as the Flames earned the FGCU Fort Myers Classic championship with a 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 25-18, 23-25, 15-12) win over the host Eagles on Saturday night at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Fla. FGCU was the defending Atlantic Sun Conference champion and was coming off a 26-win season and trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Earlier in the day, UIC picked up another marathon win, defeating North Dakota State, 3-2 (25-17, 25-12, 24-26, 21-25, 15-9) behind Woodard's 16 kills (on .714 hitting) and seven blocks, as well as 14 kills from junior outside hitter
Cleo Lorenzo (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Elite). Junior setter
Francesca Venturini (Bergamo, Italy/Liceo Classico Paolo Sarpi) and sophomore outside hitter
Tamara Kisic (Belgrade, Serbia) added double-doubles against NDSU — Venturini had 26 assists and 10 digs, while Kisic posted 11 kills and 10 digs.
Woodard was selected as the FGCU Fort Myers Classic Most Valuable Player and Kisic joined her on the all-tournament team.
Full recaps and play-by-play of both matches can be found
here and
here.
COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH JUSTIN INGRAM
"We knew Florida Gulf Coast was going to be our toughest opponent here. They've historically been outstanding within their conference and within the country every year. We had our work cut out for us, but were absolutely up for the challenge. It was probably the best our Flames have played all year in a match setting, and probably even in practice. They did a fantastic job all the way around. Both teams made some key substitutions, and as the match progressed,
Gabi Peter came in and did a fantastic job for us in the opposite. Throughout the match, we had key players —
Za'Niya Boyles,
Zahria Woodard, Cleo (Lorenzo) and Tamara (Kisic) — who did a great job with their choices on attack and their all-around ball control when they were in the back row. I couldn't be more proud. Both setters — Mish (
Mihaela Harizanova) and Francesca (Venturini) — were setting a terrific offense and keeping us stable throughout the course of both five-setters today. It was a long day with 10 sets, but an outstanding job by the Flames."
SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
