SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (5-4, 0-1) fell in the Great Lakes Valley Conference opener to Truman State (2-7, 1-0) by a score of 3-1. Illinois Springfield fell behind two sets to none before battling back to win the third set 26-24.
Alli Splitt had a game-high 19 kills while
Alyssa Hasler added 12 kills. The two middles for UIS combined for 31 kills and just three errors on the night.
The night opened with a 25-17 win for the Bulldogs, as UIS committed nine errors in the first set, attacking at just a .049 percentage. In the second set, UIS again had just 10 kills against seven errors and fell 25-22. UIS fell behind 10-1, surrendering nine consecutive points at one time. UIS rallied to take seven of eight points to cut the deficit to 12-9 before Truman again extended its lead to 20-11.
The Prairie Stars rallied to score nine of 11 to bring the score to 24-22 but Truman closed out the second set 25-22 to take the two set advantage.
In the third set, the two teams battled back-and-forth before UIS took a 13-10 lead before the Bulldogs rattled off six of seven points to tie the game at 16 apiece. UIS rallied to score five in a row to take control but Truman tied the match at 24, scoring six of seven points again. Splitt gave UIS a 25-24 lead before
Ashley Beaton ended the third with an ace, giving UIS a shot at another five-set victory.
However, in the fourth, although Truman took an early lead, UIS came back and rallied for six of seven points to take a 12-9 advantage. The Bulldogs took their last lead at 16-15 and would not relinquish it, ending up winning 25-21.
Splitt ended with 19 kills, two off her personal high, which she had in a five-set match. This was her fourth game of the season with double-digit kills and her sixth game with two or fewer errors. Hasler added 12 kills, giving her four games as well in double figures, while also adding three more block assists.
Kayla Katarzynski had a team-high 22 digs while
Tiffany Wentworth tallied 25 assists as
Lexi Hall added 19.
UIS will look to bounce back at home tomorrow at 3 pm against Quincy.
