Nov. 20, 2008

Box Score

Cleveland, Ohio - The eighth-seeded UIC volleyball team advanced to the 2008 Horizon League Tournament quarterfinals after defeating No. 9 Youngstown State in five sets (25-20, 22-25, 25-21, 19-25, 15-10) on Thursday night in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Flames (14-17) will face No. 1 Milwaukee in Woodling Gymnasium on Friday, Nov. 21 at 10:30 a.m.

"Youngstown State is a good team and it is very difficult to beat a squad three times in one season," said head coach Nancy Mueller. "We did a great job staying focused and are looking for another win over Milwaukee tomorrow."

Katerina Hanackova recorded a career-high offensive performance with 26 kills. Katarina Nedeljkovic tied her season-best 23 digs. Dana Van Syckle and Casie Sullivan each picked up a double-double in the win. Epiphany Davis and Lana Lobdell paced UIC at the net with four blocks each.

"We had some great individual performances tonight, but it was a team victory," said Mueller.

Kaitlin O'Hara led the Penguins with 15 kills, while Karla Everhart totaled a team-high 22 digs.

UIC recorded a .350 attack percentage en route to a 25-20 victory in set one. Tied at 20 each late in the frame, the Flames scored five straight points for the early match advantage.

Youngstown State (11-17) held UIC to a .019 offensive clip in the second set. With a four-point (20-16) lead in game two, the Flames notched two straight to cut the deficit to two points. Youngstown State answered with a 5-2 run to tie the contest (25-22).

Trailing 15-11, UIC knotted set three at 18 all on a 7-3 burst. After two more ties, the Flames went on a 5-1 run for the win (25-21).

The Penguins controlled set fourth with a five-point advantage (23-18) late in the game. Youngstown State forced the match into a fifth and final set after capturing game five on a final block by Tara Reid.

There were several lead changes before the Flames turned up the heat in the final set with a 6-1 run for the match victory (15-10).