CHICAGO, Ill. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) ---The Green Bay volleyball team (9-4, 1-0 HL) opened Horizon League play with a victory over UIC in Chicago this evening (23-25, 25-19, 25-19, 23-25, 15-12).

Green Bay 3, UIC 2
Green Bay and UIC gave the fans everything they were looking for tonight in this five set thriller to begin the conference slate.  This was a tough task for the Phoenix to begin Horizon League action, but the squad was up for the challenge.  Both teams performed at a high-level defensively with each side earning over 80 digs and collecting 14+ blocks.  With that, neither team had a stunning hitting percentage, but the Phoenix topped that statistic in the match, which was a major key to their victory.  Junior Taylor Wolf and sophomore Alexis Dorner led the way offensively, each tallying 19 kills, which is a career-high for Dorner.  Freshman Zoi Sherolli also had a career-high tonight with 9 kills of her own.  As a team, nine different members contributed kills in the win.  Senior Maddie Yoss took home 45 of the 56 assist for Green Bay in the match.

In total, the squad logged 81 digs, with four members contributing double-digits.  Freshman libero Brenna Hesse led the way with 18, while Taylor Wolf followed with 15.  Senior Emily Lautenschlager and Maddie Yoss added 14 a-piece themselves as well for the Phoenix.  Out of the 14 total-blocks for Green Bay, junior Ashley Sledge led the team with 2 solo-blocks and 5 block-assist on the night.  Junior Anna Eaton followed toe-to-toe with Sledge with 7 block-assist of her own.  As a whole, six different members contributed a block-assist during the match.

Set one (23-25) was claimed by the Flames.  The Phoenix rattled off the first three points but the set went back-and-forth between the two teams from that time forward.  There were 12 ties and 5 different lead changes with neither team taking control of any momentum.  Green Bay actually had the advantage in attack-attempts kills, but UIC had four more blocks, a service ace advantage, which seemed to be the difference in the set.  The Phoenix also committed double-digit attack-errors which stifled them during the set.  Nonetheless, Alexis Dorner led the team with 7 kills.

Set two (25-19) had Green Bay bounce back to tie the match.  The set was tied up early at 2-2, when the Phoenix went on a 5-0 run to take control.  The squad didn't give up the lead after that and the Flames never got within more than four points the rest of the way.  Green Bay was more efficient offensively in the second set, committing 4 less attack-errors and improving their hitting percentage by +.119.  Alexis Dorner capped off the set for the Phoenix with a kill from Maddie Yoss.

Set three (25-19) saw Green Bay carry their momentum to take the lead in the match.  Once again, the team went on an early 5-0 run to seize control.  At one point, the Phoenix were up 12-4, with the eight points being their largest lead during the set.  Similarly to set two, Green Bay improved their efficiency offensively and boasted a .316 hitting percentage in the third.  UIC didn't help their cause though, committing six attack-errors and four serive-errors.

Set four (23-25) was much similar to the first set and was dictated by runs from each team.  The Phoenix scored the first three points but the Flames went on run after to tie things up early at 3-3.  During the set, the sides exchanged leads seven different times and the set was tied up thirteen different times as well.  UIC went on a 4-0 run to take a 15-19 lead.  Nonetheless, Green Bay went on a 5-0 run to take the lead so after at 21-20.  Unfortunately, the Flames closed out the set on 4-0 run to send the match to a fifth and final set.

Set five (15-12) saw Green Bay claim the set and take home the victory.  The set was close throughout but the Phoenix went on a 5-1 to take the 7-3 lead.  The squad held on the rest of the way and closed the match on a 3-1 run off a kill from Taylor Wolf to finish the match.

Next Game
The Phoenix return home Sunday (September 29^th) with a conference matchup with in-state rival Milwaukee.  First serve is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CT.
 
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