2008 Woodie Awards
Back on the Wright track
Brian Egerton
Issue date: 10/2/06 Section: Sports
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Page 1 of 1
The Flames volleyball team came out fired up on September 23, winning three exciting games in a row against Wright State (31-29, 30-24, 30-28).
As game one sea-sawed back and forth both teams tried to control the points. Wright States' pseudo spikes initially fooled UIC, as they began a series of attacks by carefully placing dinks over the UIC's blockers heads. UIC adjusted their game and quickly learned from their mistakes.
As the game seesawed back and forth it looked at one moment (26-28) when Wright State was going to runaway with the game. The UIC Volleyball team determinedly fought back to win the game with five straight points in a row.
Ambria Springer had several key spikes to help close the gap. The Flames athletically played hard-nosed defensive and soon began to out-dig their opponents and play stellar defensive. Julie Popp continued to lead the team defensively.
After winning game one, the Flames never looked back. Early into game two, the Flames were behind but clawed there way back into the driver's seat.
Helping the Flames were several of the points on unforced errors by Wright State. As in the first game, lead changes were constant until a pivotal moment when the game was tied. Then a barrage of powerful spikes catapulted the Flames past the Wright State Raiders. Wright State lethargically watched, as the Flames scored seven straight points in a row to win their second game.
Once up 3-0, Wright State couldn't stop the juggernaut attack of the Flames offensive. The Flames put the hurt on the Raiders with an early string of seven straight points. They continued to outplay their opponents on both sides of the ball. It looked as if the match was over, but Wright State hadn't given up yet.
To their credit the team continued to persevere while on the edge of defeat. The Flames on the verge of victory, struggled to finish their opponent giving up six straight points.
At this point the game was tied 28-28. But the Flames simply refused to lose-- scoring the final points to close out the match.
The Flames played well, a sentiment that coach Nancy Mueller says has UIC back on track.
"The past games have prepared us for the conference games," Mueller said.
As of Sept. 29, the Flames are 3-0 in Horizon League play and are once again feeling the swagger needed to make a run at a title.
- Page 1 of 1
As game one sea-sawed back and forth both teams tried to control the points. Wright States' pseudo spikes initially fooled UIC, as they began a series of attacks by carefully placing dinks over the UIC's blockers heads. UIC adjusted their game and quickly learned from their mistakes.
As the game seesawed back and forth it looked at one moment (26-28) when Wright State was going to runaway with the game. The UIC Volleyball team determinedly fought back to win the game with five straight points in a row.
Ambria Springer had several key spikes to help close the gap. The Flames athletically played hard-nosed defensive and soon began to out-dig their opponents and play stellar defensive. Julie Popp continued to lead the team defensively.
After winning game one, the Flames never looked back. Early into game two, the Flames were behind but clawed there way back into the driver's seat.
Helping the Flames were several of the points on unforced errors by Wright State. As in the first game, lead changes were constant until a pivotal moment when the game was tied. Then a barrage of powerful spikes catapulted the Flames past the Wright State Raiders. Wright State lethargically watched, as the Flames scored seven straight points in a row to win their second game.
Once up 3-0, Wright State couldn't stop the juggernaut attack of the Flames offensive. The Flames put the hurt on the Raiders with an early string of seven straight points. They continued to outplay their opponents on both sides of the ball. It looked as if the match was over, but Wright State hadn't given up yet.
To their credit the team continued to persevere while on the edge of defeat. The Flames on the verge of victory, struggled to finish their opponent giving up six straight points.
At this point the game was tied 28-28. But the Flames simply refused to lose-- scoring the final points to close out the match.
The Flames played well, a sentiment that coach Nancy Mueller says has UIC back on track.
"The past games have prepared us for the conference games," Mueller said.
As of Sept. 29, the Flames are 3-0 in Horizon League play and are once again feeling the swagger needed to make a run at a title.
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