Valparaiso University

Valpo volleyball middle hitter Jessica Pickett (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) became the 16^th player in program history to hit the 300-block milestone for her career as the Beacons suffered a 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 28-26) defeat Thursday evening to UIC in Chicago.
 
How It Happened

• The first sustained run for either team in the first set came by the Flames, as UIC turned an 8-8 tie into a 12-8 lead with four straight points. The Beacons got within two points at 16-14, but the hosts scored four of the next five points on their way to claiming the opener.
• Set two featured 13 ties and five lead changes, with Valpo holding a lead as late as 17-16 before UIC scored five of the next six to go ahead 21-18. Valpo pulled back to within 23-22, but back-to-back kills for the Flames gave them a 2-0 lead in the match.
• Set three was even tighter than the second frame, as there were 17 ties and eight lead changes. The first three-point lead for either side in the set came when the Beacons claimed a 22-19 lead on a kill from Maggie Uhwat (Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond Burton Community [Central Michigan]).
• The teams traded points to move Valpo within two points of extending the match, and it was the Beacons who earned set point at 24-22 on a block from Pickett and Sarah Pippin (Niles, Mich./Edwardsburg).
• UIC turned the tables by scoring three in a row to reach match point at 25-24. The Flames had two opportunities to close the match extinguished thanks to kills from Pippin and Kyla Bellich (Thomson, Ill./Prince of Peace Catholic), but converted on their third chance to finish the contest.

 
Inside the Match

• Pickett entered the match just three away from reaching the 300-block mark for her career and hit the milestone rejection at 13-13 of the second set with a solo stuff.
• Pickett ended the night with a team-best five blocks and was strong on the attack as well, racking up seven kills on just 11 swings for a .636 hitting percentage.
• Ava Helming (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) paced the Beacons on the attack with 12 kills, reaching double figures in the category for the 17^th time this season and for the ninth straight match.
• Pippin tied her season high for the third consecutive match with nine kills.
• Maddie Kmetz (St. John, Ind./Andrean [Western Michigan]) led the Beacons for the first time this season in the assist department, racking up a season-best 16 assists.
• Jordyn Gove (Amarillo, Texas/Randall) picked up a match-high 15 digs, reaching double figures in that category for the 14^th time this year.
• The Beacons hit at a .190 clip with 41 kills, while UIC finished the night hitting .263 with 46 kills.

 
Next Up
Valpo (11-10, 3-6 MVC) returns home to the ARC Saturday night for its lone home match in over a month's span as the Beacons take on Indiana State. First serve is slated for 6 p.m.