TERRE HAUTE, IND. (Sept. 26, 2024) – The UIC volleyball team (8-4, 0-0 MVC) is set to open up Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend, slated to face off against Indiana State (3-9, 0-0 MVC) and Evansville (1-11, 0-0 MVC) throughout the weekend. Both matches will be available to stream on ESPN+ with live stats available at UICFlames.com.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
Friday, Sept. 27
vs. Indiana State
Time: 5 p.m. (CT)
Where: Hulman Center
 
Saturday, Sept. 28
vs. Evansville
Time: 5 p.m. (CT)
Where: Meeks Family Fieldhouse
 
SCOUTING INDIANA STATE

• This will be the eighth match-up against both teams with the Flames holding a 5-2 overall lead in the series.
• In their last meeting, the Flames fell short on the road on Oct. 13, 2023, in four sets. Junior Cleo Lorenzo (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Elite) collected 14 kills and a service ace in the match. Graduate student Zahria Woodard (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest) contributed nine kills and six blocks.
• The Sycamores have collected wins against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Georgia State and Lamar this season and are on the search for their first win since Sept. 14.
• Senior Emma Kaelin continues to remain on the offensive for the Sycamores, leading the team with 154 kills in the season, averaging 3.35 kills per set.

 
SCOUTING EVANSVILLE
 

• The Flames aim to even up the match-up in their 10^th meeting against Evansville. The Purple Aces hold a 5-4 overall lead on the series.
• In their last meeting, both programs made history with a three-hour, forty-five-minute battle that ended in an Evansville victory. Woodard and sophomore Za'Niya Boyles (Columbia, S.C./Collegiate Gray Academy) each collected double-digit kills in the bout.
• Evansville has remained winless in the month of September, collecting their sole victory against the University of Puerto Rico- Rio Piedras in the Puerto Rico Tournament back on Aug. 31.
• Senior Giula Cardona leads numerous statistical categories in the NCAA including points (273), kills (233) and total attacks (684). She also averages the most attacks per set (14.55) with the fifth-most kills per set (4.96). Cardona also leads the Valley with 24 aces, which is the 15^th-best mark in the country.

 
LAST WEEK RECAP
 

• The Flames finished non-conference play breaking a three-match slide with a 3-1 victory over Milwaukee Saturday afternoon at DePaul's McGrath-Phillips Arena.
• Boyles led the attack in the victory with a season-high 10 kills with a .381 hitting percentage. Lorenzo contributed seven kills and 20 digs against the Panthers.
• The team collected 17 total blocks, a new season-high for the group.
• The Flames finished non-conference play with an 8-4 record, the second-best record in the MVC.

 
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