EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Sept. 28, 2024) – The UIC volleyball team (10-4, 2-0 MVC) couldn't be stopped from the service line, collecting a season-high 12 services aces enroute to a four-set victory against Evansville (2-12, 1-1 MVC) in Missouri Valley Conference play at Meeks Family Fieldhouse Saturday night.
Graduate student
Zahria Woodard (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest) collected 13 kills and five total blocks. Junior
Cleo Lorenzo (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Elite) contributed 12 kills and four digs. Junior
Ayat Amin (Cairo, Egypt/Al Waha International School) tallied 11 kills and ten digs. Junior
Francesca Venturini (Bergamo, Italy/Liceo Classico Paolo Sarpi) was credited with seven service aces and 29 assists in the victory.
The full box score and play-by-play against Evansville can be found
here.
COMMENT FROM HEAD COACH JUSTIN INGRAM
"We were so excited to get Valley league matches underway. Each match was critical, and away matches are very difficult to win. Indiana State and Evansville both tested us differently. We stayed patient tonight, and I am proud of we closed out sets three and four. Next week, we will watch our teams progress and do our best to study our opponents, so we have knowledge of what to expect."
COMMENT FROM GRADUATE STUDENT ZAHRIA WOODARD
"I'm really excited about first two conference wins and the progress we have made as a team. Hitting a season-high in services (as a team) was a big boost, and I'm glad I could play a part in the attack. We're building great momentum, and I'm looking forward to keeping it going next week!"
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FLAMES FACTS
- Seven service aces is a new collegiate-high for Venturini, surpassing her three service aces she collected in UIC's four-set victory against Western Illinois on Sept. 7.
- This was Woodard's eighth double-digit kill performance, and her first since collecting 11 kills in the five-set win over Brown on Sept. 14.
- Tonight's victory marks UIC's first victory over Evansville since joining the MVC in July 2022, and its first win since Sept. 16, 2000.
- The Flames are among the three teams to open conference play 2-0, joining Bradley (7-7, 2-0 MVC) and UNI (7-7, 2-0 MVC) atop of the standings.
UP NEXT
The Flames return home to Credit Union 1 Arena to begin a five-match homestand starting on Friday, Oct. 4 against Drake. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT). The match will be available to stream on ESPN+ with live stats available at
UICFlames.com.
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