The Valparaiso University volleyball team defeated Illinois-Chicago for the first time since 1996 on Saturday morning, downing the Flames 30-26, 30-22, 30-23 in match two of the NIU Comfort Inn & Suites Invitational held in DeKalb, Ill.

Valpo had lost five straight to UIC prior to the victory, and will face host Northern Illinois Saturday night at 7 p.m. for the tournament championship. The Crusaders have won their two previous tournaments already this season.

Liz Mikos (Dundee, Ill./Jacobs H.S.) led Valpo with 11 kills and hit .421 win the contest, while Michelle Robinson (Bloomington, Ill./Normal H.S.) added nine kills. Sara Silcox (Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City H.S.) tallied a match-high 17 digs, while Cyndi Norman (Minooka, Ill./Minooka H.S.) recorded her fourth straight double-double with 32 assists and ten digs.

Teaha Shepperd led Illinois-Chicago (3-6) with 11 kills, while Jordan Studzinski registered 16 digs.

Valpo (10-1) hit .224 for the match and tallied 55 digs, while holding UIC to just .065 hitting and 50 digs.