SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars returned home for the first time in two-weeks and avenged a loss earlier in the season to Southern Indiana, taking down the Screaming Eagles in five-sets behind a career night from senior
Ashley Beaton and
Kayla Katarzynski. The Prairie Stars took the first and third sets while Southern Indiana took the second and fourth before UIS came away with a thrilling 15-13 win in the fifth to take the match. Senior libero,
Kayla Katarzynski also set a UIS record for digs in a match with 39, breaking her own record of 37, which she had accomplished on two occasions.
Beaton totaled 22 kills on the match, two shy of her career-high which was set on September 5
th of last season, though she had seven less attacks in the win over Southern Indiana. The senior from Wildwood, Missouri had 22 kills against just four errors on 55 total attacks while adding four block assists and nine digs.
Alli Splitt also had a big night, tallying 14 kills and four errors with five total blocks.
Alyssa Hasler ended the evening with 11 kills and just three errors while upping her GLVC leading total in block with two solo efforts and five block assists.
The Prairie Stars used an 8-1 run in the middle of the first set to take control and cruise to a 25-15 opening set win before dropping the second set 25-20. In the third, UIS used a 6-1 run to take a 19-13 lead before closing the set on a 6-2 run to close the set 25-16, winning again in dominate fashion.
After Southern Indiana took the fourth 25-21, the Prairie Stars jumped out to an early 5-3 lead in the final set. Southern Indiana tied the match at eight and then took their first lead at 10-9, then again at 11-10, and for the last time at 12-11. UIS got a kill from Beaton to tie the match at 12 before using a USI error to take the lead 13-12. After a Screaming Eagle kill, UIS got a kill from
Sarah Bond and then ended the match on an error from Southern Indiana for the 15-13 victory.
Illinois Springfield improved to 10-20, 3-14 on the season and dropped Southern Indiana to 9-20, 3-14. UIS will have a chance to close their season with back-to-back wins for the second straight season tomorrow as they welcome Bellarmine as five seniors will be recognized prior to the match.
