UIC hit .376 as a team and swept a short-handed Youngstown State volleyball team on Friday evening in the Horizon League opener for both teams. The set scores were 25-14, 25-18, 25-13.

The Penguins were playing without their top two left-side hitters, Margaux Thompson and Marketa Plesingrova, and regular libero Lauren Blanco was forced to play on the pin. YSU hit .084 with 17 fewer kills than UIC.

Sarah Varcolla led Youngstown State with eight kills in 24 attempts, and Morgan Tippie posted seven. Blanco finished with 12 digs, and libero Dana Borsz finished with 11.

Kyisha Hunt had 11 kills on a .429 attack percentage to lead the Flames.

Youngstown State will try to bounce back and split the weekend when it plays at Green Bay on Saturday at 5 p.m. Eastern.