It was a fitting end to the Wright State volleyball team's 2013 season: the Raiders battled their opponent early in the match, then ultimately crumbled down the stretch, losing to yet another conference rival.
Illinois-Chicago defeated WSU 3-1 (15-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23) in a battle of the bottom two teams in the Horizon League Saturday night in Fairborn.
Senior Heidi Splinter led the Raiders with 21 digs and notched nine kills. Stephanie Ruffing recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs.
The loss for WSU was its 18th-straight. The last win for the Raiders- who finished 6-26 overall and 0-14 in conference play- occurred on Sept. 18 when WSU swept Chicago State. Under second-year head coach Susan Clements, the Raiders have not won a match against a conference opponent. 
After the match Clements recognized that, although her team did not produce a win in the standings, its effort was noticeable.
"This weekend, we showed a lot of fight," Clements said. "Coming into this weekend, we talked about playing 'up' so we can build through the spring and into next season. We've been competitive. Not in every single match, but with every single team throughout the conference."
Against the Flames, the Raiders came out fighting. WSU dominated the first set, then became caught in a back-and-forth tussle with UIC in the second set. Trailing 24-18, WSU rallied to pull within 24-23 but lost the ensuing point.
The Raiders had a chance to force a fifth and decisive set. With the Flames leading 23-22 in the fourth, setter Tracy Friel committed an attacking error to tie the set 23-23. However consecutive kills by Sara Stenard and Molly McCoy ended the Raiders' hopes for their first conference victory in over two calendar years.
It was another stinging loss for the Raiders, but the team remains optimistic about its future.
"As coach [Clements] wanted, we came into tonight playing 'upward' and we definitely saw the improvements on what we had been working on all weekend with passing and digging," right side hitter Ellen Senf said. "I definitely think there is a huge future for this group."
