SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars opened the 2016 season with a dominated three-set win over Ohio Valley University before dropping the night-cap to Upper Iowa. The Prairie Stars swept the Fighting Scots behind a team high eight kills from Emma Burkle before closing the night by way of a 3-0 defeat to Upper Iowa.

GAME ONE: ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 3, OHIO VALLEY 0
The Prairie Stars dominated their way to a 3-0 victory by taking the first set 25-15 behind 14 kills and .321 hitting percentage in the first set. UIS cruised to a 25-1 win in set two before closing out the win with a 25-17 win in the final set.

Sophomore, Emma Burkle accumulated eight kills on the night while Alyssa Hasler and newcomer, Kendall Ward, each tallied six apiece. Rachel Cobert and Alli Spiltt each had five kills and committed just one error between the two.

GAME TWO: UPPER IOWA 3, ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD 0
The Prairie Stars didn't have the same fate in the final match of the night as they opened up the first set with a -.071 hitting percentage with nine errors, giving up the first set 25-13. Nine kills in the second set made for a 25-18 defeat before they really turned it on in the third.

Though the Prairie Stars fell in the third set 26-24, they accumulated 17 kills against just six errors, good for a .282 hitting percentage. Hasler and Splitt each had eight kills, Splitt coming no errors and attacking .615 on the game.

Rachel Cobert led the way on the day with 14 digs while Kayla Katarzynski and Courtney Schutt each had nine.

The Prairie Stars will continue the Capital Classic with games at 11:00 and 7:30 taking on West Alabama and Wayne State.