The Murray State Racers fell to the UIC Flames, 3–2, after winning the third and fourth sets Friday night in Chicago, Illinois.
The Racers dropped to 3–13 overall with a 1–6 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play. Meanwhile, the Flames improved to 10–7 with a 4–3 conference record.
The Flames got on top early in the first set and took a 1–0 lead, winning 25–15 while hitting .500. UIC held on through the second set, putting up 17 kills and winning 25–19 to take a commanding 2–0 lead.
The Racers stormed back in the third set, recording 12 kills on a .308 hitting percentage and staying alive with a 25–22 win. Murray State forced a decisive fifth set with a dramatic 25–23 fourth-set victory, capped off with a kill from senior Ella Vogel.
The drama continued in the fifth set as neither team was able to pull away early. The teams traded kills throughout the set, with neither side ever leading by more than two points. However, the Flames ultimately secured the win after a pair of kills by Antoine Kelnárová sealed a 19–17 victory to clinch the match.
Three Racers recorded double-digit kills: Vogel led the team with 17, Alexa Watts posted a career-high 14, and Lily Burnett added 10. Paige Brock led the team with 27 assists, and Katie Titus added 23. Mija Pristovnik led with 12 digs and contributed eight kills. Haidi Miliou tallied three blocks, while Vogel and Morgan McClure added two each.
Kelnárová led the Flames with 20 kills, Francesca Venturini posted 32 assists, and Hannah Howard added 13 digs. Hannah Ditsworth led all players with 10 blocks.
The Racers return to action Saturday, Oct. 18, at 5 p.m. CT in Valparaiso, Indiana, against the Valparaiso Beacons.
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