ST. LOUIS – The Billikens rallied from an early deficit in the fifth set to earn a 3-2 win over UIC Saturday afternoon inside Chaifetz Pavilion.
SET 1 | SLU 25, UIC 22
The teams battled through a back-and-forth opening set, tied at 12 before UIC took a 19-18 lead. Saint Louis answered with five of the next six points to take a 23-20 advantage and closed out the set, 25-22. Jetta Brenning hit 1.000 with three kills and added nine assists in the opening frame, while the Billikens finished the set with six total blocks.
SET 2 | SLU 22, UIC 25
Saint Louis jumped out to a 5-2 lead before UIC tied the set at 10-10. The Billikens built a 17-12 advantage, but UIC responded with an 8-0 run behind the serve of Tamara Kisic, including two aces, to take a 20-17 lead. UIC extended its lead to 24-19 before Saint Louis battled back to within 24-22, but the Flames closed out the set on the next point.
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 built a 14-6 advantage. UIC continued to battle, pulling within 22-19 and later 23-22, but the Billikens scored the final two points to take the set. Ellie Rink became the first Billiken to reach double-digit kills in the match, while Tamia Maddox recorded five kills in the frame. Saint Louis posted 19 kills in the set, its most of the match.
SET 4 | SLU 17, UIC 25
UIC took control early, opening a 10-5 lead and extending the advantage to 19-11. The Flames maintained the lead throughout the remainder of the set to force a fifth.
SET 5 | SLU 15, UIC 13
UIC opened the deciding set with four straight points and led 10-5 before Saint Louis responded with four consecutive points to cut the deficit to 10-9. The Billikens continued to battle and took their first lead of the set at 13-12 before Ellie Rink followed with a kill to put Saint Louis ahead 14-12. The Billikens finished the comeback with a 15-13 victory, hitting .368 in the deciding frame with 10 kills and three errors.
NOTABLES
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Ellie Rink led all players with 19 kills and added nine digs and two block assists.
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Jetta Brenning finished one kill shy of a triple-double with 41 assists, 12 digs and nine kills.
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Lara Zigic recorded a career-high 18 digs and added eight assists and a service ace.
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Tea Kalajdzic recorded 10 kills for the second consecutive match and added four block assists.
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Kayla Jansen had six kills and six block assists, while Saint Louis totaled nine team blocks.
