Billikens Extinguish Flames to Enhance to 2-0

ST. LOUIS – The Billikens rallied from an early deficit within the fifth set to earn a 3-2 win over UIC Saturday afternoon inside Chaifetz Pavilion.

SET 1 | SLU 25, UIC 22

The groups battled via a back-and-forth opening set, tied at 12 earlier than UIC took a 19-18 lead. Saint Louis answered with 5 of the following six factors to take a 23-20 benefit and closed out the set, 25-22. Jetta Brenning hit 1.000 with three kills and added 9 assists within the opening body, whereas the Billikens completed the set with six complete blocks.

SET 2 | SLU 22, UIC 25

Saint Louis jumped out to a 5-2 lead earlier than UIC tied the set at 10-10. The Billikens constructed a 17-12 benefit, however UIC responded with an 8-0 run behind the serve of Tamara Kisic, together with two aces, to take a 20-17 lead. UIC prolonged its result in 24-19 earlier than Saint Louis battled again to inside 24-22, however the Flames closed out the set on the following level.

SET 3 | SLU 25, UIC 22

Saint Louis used a 6-0 run behind the serve of Kayla Jansen to take a 9-3 lead and later constructed a 14-6 benefit. UIC continued to battle, pulling inside 22-19 and later 23-22, however the Billikens scored the ultimate two factors to take the set. Ellie Rink turned the primary Billiken to achieve double-digit kills within the match, whereas Tamia Maddox recorded 5 kills within the body. Saint Louis posted 19 kills within the set, its many of the match.

SET 4 | SLU 17, UIC 25

UIC took management early, opening a 10-5 lead and increasing the benefit to 19-11. The Flames maintained the lead all through the rest of the set to pressure a fifth.

SET 5 | SLU 15, UIC 13

UIC opened the deciding set with 4 straight factors and led 10-5 earlier than Saint Louis responded with 4 consecutive factors to chop the deficit to 10-9. The Billikens continued to battle and took their first lead of the set at 13-12 earlier than Ellie Rink adopted with a kill to place Saint Louis forward 14-12. The Billikens completed the comeback with a 15-13 victory, hitting .368 within the deciding body with 10 kills and three errors.

NOTABLES

• Ellie Rink led all gamers with 19 kills and added 9 digs and two block assists.

• Jetta Brenning completed one kill shy of a triple-double with 41 assists, 12 digs and 9 kills.

• Lara Zigic recorded a career-high 18 digs and added eight assists and a service ace.

• Tea Kalajdzic recorded 10 kills for the second consecutive match and added 4 block assists.

• Kayla Jansen had six kills and 6 block assists, whereas Saint Louis totaled 9 staff blocks.