CHICAGO – The UIC volleyball team (4-8, 0-0 MVC) opens Missouri Valley Conference play at home this weekend at Credit Union 1 Arena. The Flames face Illinois State (9-2, 0-0 MVC) in their MVC opener Friday at 6 p.m., before wrapping up the weekend against Belmont (3-8, 0-0 MVC) Saturday at 2 p.m.

Each game will be available to stream on ESPN+ with live stats available at UICFlames.com. Details on single match tickets for the 2026 season will be available via the UIC Athletics Ticket Office, which can be reached by phone (312.996.5580) or e-mail (athleticsticketing@uic.edu). Doors open one hour before first serve.

UIC FLAMES vs. ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS/BELMONT BRUINS
When: Friday, Sept. 25- Saturday, Sept. 26
Where: Credit Union 1 Arena

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 25
vs. Illinois State
Time: 6 p.m.
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: UICFlames.com
Promotion: Pride Night – We will be celebrating our LGBTQIA+ community across our campus and the greater Chicagoland area. UIC Pride shirts, pints and flags will be passed out from the UIC marketing table throughout the match.

Saturday, Sept. 26
vs. Belmont
Time: 2 p.m.
Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: UICFlames.com
Promotion: Community Volleyball Day/ Trading Card Giveaway/ Post-Match Autographs - We are inviting volleyball programs from throughout the Chicagoland area to cheer on the Flames. The first 150 fans will be able to go home with their very own 2026 UIC volleyball team trading card set. The team will be signing post-match autographs.

SCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE

• This will be the 22^nd match-up between the programs, with the Redbirds holding a 15-6 overall lead in the series. However, since the Flames joined the MVC in 2022, UIC has gone 5-3 against Illinois State.
• In their last matchup, Illinois State eliminated UIC in the first round of the 2025 MVC Volleyball Championship, defeating the Flames in five sets last November. Senior Gabi Peter recorded nine kills in the match.
• The Redbirds are coming off a strong weekend at the Oakland Invitational, sweeping Oakland (5-7, 0-0 Horizon) and Marist (4-8, 0-0 Metro).
• Sophomore Ella Craggs (39 assists, 15 digs) and graduate student Sammi Bunch (34 digs, 17 assists) each earned spots on the Oakland Invitational All-Tournament Team for their contributions to the Redbirds' victories.

SCOUTING BELMONT

• This will be the eighth match-up between the Bruins and the Flames, with UIC leading the overall series 6-1, winning every meeting since both programs joined the MVC in 2022.
• The Bruins look to bounce back after dropping back-to-back four-set matches at the Nashville Showcase last weekend against Vanderbilt (9-0, 0-0 SEC) and Lipscomb (6-3, 0-0 ASUN).
• Senior Brenna Kauffeld leads the Bruin's attack this season, collecting double-digit kills across eight matches this season, leading the program with 169 kills.
• Junior Alexia Smollen is amongst some of the top blockers in the MVC, ranking fourth in the conference averaging 1.08 blocks per set.

LAST WEEKEND RECAP – vs. LOYOLA/NIU/DEPAUL

• The Flames finished nonconference play on the road, defeating Loyola (3-7, 0-0 A-10) before falling to Northern Illinois (6-4, 0-0 Horizon) and DePaul (8-3, 0-0 BIG EAST) to close out the weekend.
• Sophomore Emma Colombari collected a collegiate-high 20 kills in the win over the Ramblers, finishing with a team-high 34 kills over the weekend, averaging 3.09 kills per set.
• Freshman Robyn Ward posted nine total blocks across the three matches, recording a solo block against each opponent. She finished with a .463 attack percentage over the weekend and leads the MVC with a .407 attack percentage this season.
• Freshman Judy Asar led the Flames from the service line, finishing with seven service aces over the weekend and 15 on the season. She ranks fourth in The Valley with an average of 0.48 service aces per set.

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