The Valpo volleyball team took to the court Tuesday evening in midweek action in Chicago, but despite being right in the first two sets, the Beacons dropped a 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-20) decision to UIC.
How It Happened
- Valpo led through the early stages of the first set, extending its edge to as many as three points. The Flames rallied to take their first lead at 11-10 and held a 15-13 lead at the media timeout.
- The Beacons scored consecutive points out of the stoppage to even the set at 15-all before UIC came back with a 5-1 spurt to earn a 20-16 advantage.
- Freshman Lilly Merk (Terre Haute, Ind./Terre Haute South Vigo) had a kill and a block in a three-point spurt which brought Valpo to within 20-19, but UIC responded with four of the next five points to earn set point at 24-20.
- The Beacons kept holding off set points, as a kill from junior Sam Warren (Kentland, Ind./South Newton), a UIC error and a kill by freshman Kadence Brumitt (Niles, Mich./Brandywine) extended the set three times. But at 24-23, Valpo was unable to force extra points, as the Flames claimed the opener.
- Valpo jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead to open the second frame, in part thanks to a pair of rejections by Warren and freshman Jessica Pickett (Carmel, Ind./Carmel). But it took UIC only until 9-8 to gain its first lead of the set.
- That set up a second set which eventually featured nine ties and three lead changes. UIC held a slim 15-14 edge at the media timeout, but a 4-1 spurt for the Beacons — which included three kills by senior Elise Swistek (LaPorte, Ind./New Prairie) — put Valpo in front, 19-18.
- The teams traded sideouts as the Beacons were the first to reach the 20-point mark. UIC scored three in a row to go up 22-20, but Valpo came back with kills from Warren and Pickett to tie the set at 22-22.
- The Flames answered with two straight points of their own to earn set point at 24-22, and while Warren came up with a kill to make it 24-23, UIC converted on its second chance to go up 2-0 in the match.
- Valpo held a narrow lead for the first half of the third set before the Flames went on a 5-1 run around the media timeout to take the lead, 16-14.
- The Beacons were still down just one at 18-17, but UIC put together four points in a row to gain separation. While Valpo eventually held off two match point chances, the Flames closed things out on their third attempt.
Inside the Match
- Tuesday's result marked the first time this season Valpo has lost a three-set match. The Beacons had previously been 7-0 in matches which went the minimum three frames.
- Brumitt led the Beacons in the kills department for the first time this season, finishing with 11 kills — her fourth double-digit effort of the year.
- Warren joined Brumitt in double figures, racking up 10 kills — her sixth time this season with at least 10 terminations.
- Junior Addy Kois (Osceola, Ind./Penn) led all players with 22 assists, while classmate Emma Hickey (Granger, Ind./Penn) tallied a match-best 18 digs.
- Swistek totaled 10 digs to finish in double figures as well. In the process, the senior moved past Brittany Anderson for 16th in program history, as Swistek closed the night with 1,290 career digs.
- Pickett paced the Beacons with four blocks.
Next Up
Valpo (9-8, 1-4 MVC) returns to the ARC this weekend, starting by hosting Southern Illinois on Friday at 6 p.m. The match can be seen live on ESPN+.
