AURORA, IL ---  The Prairie Stars (5-14) dropped a pair of matches to open up the 2016 Mizuno Midwest Regional Crossover, both ending in four sets. In the first match of the day, UIS fell to Ohio Dominican and then in their second match of the day, fell 3-1 to Ashland University.

MATCH ONE: OHIO DOMINCAN 3, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 1
To open the tournament, UIS dropped the first set 25-20 but came back strong for a 25-19 victory in the second. The Prairie Stars limited errors the entire day, committing just 13 on the match and no more than four in any of the four sets.

The final two sets went the way of Ohio Dominican by scores of 25-17 and 25-23. UIS totaled 45 kills and attacked a .302 clip, 54 points higher than their counterpart. The .302 attack percentage was their second highest all season, behind only a .317 performance against Oklahoma Panhandle State on September 10^th.

Alyssa Hasler and Alli Splitt led the attack in the match, each collecting 13 kills while committing just five total errors. Hasler added six block assists while Splitt notched three. Tiffany Sunderlin and Emma Burkle each tallied four block assists in the loss.

Tiffany Wentworth and Lexi Hall had 19 and 16 assists, respectively while Kayla Katarzynksi added 15 digs.

MATCH TWO: ASHLAND 3, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 1
Much like the first match of the day, the Prairie Stars limited mistakes, attacking at a .285 mark for the match. Totaling 60 kills, that matches the third best mark of the season while the .285 attack percentage was the also the third highest mark of the year.

UIS came out with a 25-22 win in the first set, marching behind an eight kill set from Splitt. UIS fell in the next three sets, two of which by two points (26-24, 25-19, 25-23).

Splitt and Hasler again led the way, this time Splitt ending with 16 kills and Hasler with 14. The duo had eight errors between the two, each committing four. Jailyn Borum and Kendall Ward each had eight kills while senior outside hitter, Ashley Beaton added seven. Lexi Hall dished out 34 assists, her second highest total of the season behind a 37 assist night --- though that came in five sets.

With her 29 kills on the day, Splitt now has 200 for the season.

UIS will conclude the Crossover tournament tomorrow with a 1:00 pm match against Alderson Broaddus University.