Box Score

CHICAGO -- Freshman Katie Hosteng had a career-high 19 kills to help the Western Illinois volleyball team rebound from an opening-set loss for a 3-1 win over Illinois-Chicago on the road Tuesday night.

The Leathernecks dropped the opening set 25-21 before sweeping the final three sets 25-20, 25-22 and 25-22.

Western jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the first set only to have the Flames make a comeback to go ahead 13-12. The Leathernecks responded by tying the set at 19-19, but the Flames quickly regained the lead and never look back.

Western again went ahead in the second set, leading by an early 11-6 margin. UIC would come back within two, but Western never surrendered the lead in a convincing five-point win.

The third set saw the Flames take the early lead at 12-6. Western responded with a 5-0 run to pull within 12-11 before finally taking their first lead at 18-17. UIC went ahead again at 20-18, but the Leathernecks stole the lead right back and cruised to the 25-22 win thanks to some huge blocks.

Neither team control of the fourth set until Western went up 21-17 late in the set. The Flames fought back within 21-20, but the Leathernecks held on for the 25-22 win to end a two-match losing streak.

Western had fewer kills in the match as the Flames held a 66-62 advantage in that category, but the Leathernecks came up with 12 blocks compared to UIC's three.

Hosteng hit for a .415 percentage (19k, 2e, 41ta) and had five total blocks for one of her strongest individual outings of the season. Cait Egan chipped in 15 kills for the Leathernecks with a .467 hittinger percentage (1e, 30ta) while Ellen Miller had her second-highest assists total of the season with 52. Miller also had 12 digs for her 20th double-double of the season while Bridget Murphy led the defense with 14 digs.

Western improved to 10-20 overall and the Leathernecks enter their season finale against IUPUI Friday with a 5-12 mark in Summit League play.