Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Peoria, Ill. - Bradley Volleyball (4-12, 0-4) welcomed the UIC Flames (10-6, 2-2) and Valparaiso Beacons (15-2, 3-2) on Friday and Saturday as part of Bradley University's Homecoming Weekend. While the Braves were unable to pick up a set in the opening match versus Valley newcomer UIC, the Braves fought to the finish, being outlasted by Valparaiso in a five-set thriller.

UIC 3, BRADLEY 0 (19-25, 20-25, 25-27)
It was a hotly contested match versus the UIC Flames on Friday night, with none of the three sets decided by more than six points. Doga Topcicek (11 kills) and Karagan Coggin (10 kills) paced the Braves' attacking efforts. Coggin also led the Braves with a .440 hitting percentage. Silan Demirkol finished a few kills and one dig shy of a double-double, totaling 7 kills and 9 digs by match's end. 

Bradley was able to get up for 10 blocks, led by Kendall Minta (3) and Abby Johnson (3). 

The Braves and Flames battled to eight different tied scores in the final set, a match-high. The final set was also saved for both sides' best on the attack, with Bradley edging UIC in third-set kills, 20-18. 

Friday marked the first-ever meeting between Bradley and UIC as conference opponents. Bradley will make the return trip to the Flames Athletic Center in mid-November. 

VALPARAISO 3, BRADLEY 2 (22-25, 24-26, 27-25, 26-24, 9-15)
The finale to the weekend certainly provided plenty of excitement, with both the Braves and Valparaiso Beacons sharing the wealth. Both teams combined for 10 different players with kills in the first set. Valparaiso would become the first team to 20, and Bradley would get no closer than 23-22. The Beacons would capitalize on an attack error by the Braves to take a close opener.

With the second set, the numbers may not have been quite as exuberant, but it certainly did the trick. Topcicek (5) and Valpo's Elise Swistek (5) both held fairly substantial kill leads in the set. In fact, a Topcicek kill put Bradley on set point, up 24-23. However, two kills and a red card on Bradley would run off three unaswered points and the Beacons took the set. 

Bradley, then down 0-2 in sets, had their backs against the wall. With that being said, their third and fourth sets were perhaps their most complete of the match. Their .308 hitting percentage in the fourth was their best, and hitting .298 in the third was not far behind. 

The fifth set saw a change of pace. For the first time over the course of the weekend, Bradley had a sub-.100 hitting percentage (.088), while the Beacons continue their quality attacking run, with four of five sets seeing a mark of .250 or better. 

As mentioned, it was a thriller indeed, with the match seeing a combined 37 ties and 18 lead changes. 

Bradley will play the Beacons in Valparaiso on Friday, November 11th.

WHAT'S UP NEXT
vs. Illinois State Redbirds
Tuesday, October 4th - 6:00 PM
@ Renaissance Coliseum
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