SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The University of Illinois Springfield volleyball team grinded out a 3-1 victory over the Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) Tritons behind a career-high 18 kills from Taylor Bauer. The Prairie Stars (11-6, 5-3) beat the Tritons (11-6, 4-5) for the second straight meeting, and are now 2-0 in interdivision matches.

In the opening set, UIS jumped out to a 6-2 lead and only got better from there. Up 12-8, UIS opened up an 8-0 run and scored 11 of the next 12 points to take a commanding 23-9 lead. Bauer closed out the opening set with a kill to take the set 25-13.

UIS opened the second set on a 5-1 run, but UMSL responded with 11 of the next 12 points to take a 12-6 lead. The Prairie Stars fought back and got the score to 22-20, but couldn't tie the match as UMSL went on to win the set 25-21.

The Prairie Stars attacked at match-best .395 clip in the third set as they took a two sets to one lead. UIS totaled 20 kills against just three errors in the third set, winning 25-20.

It was much of the same in the fourth set, as UIS totaled 18 kills and attacked at a .218 mark. UIS was up 7-3, but UMSL went on a run, scoring nine of the next ten points to take a 12-8 lead. UIS responded with a 5-0 run just moments later and regained the lead 15-14.

The two teams traded points and after UIS committed a service error up 24-22, the Prairie Stars closed the match out on their next opportunity as Tiffany Wentworth and Alyssa Hasler connected for the teams 12^th block of the night to close out the match.

Bauer led the way for UIS with 18 kills, setting a career-high. Bauer's previous high was 14 kills against then #9 Augustana (SD) and again against Truman State earlier this week. Bauer has totaled 54 kills over her last four matches.

Hasler added 12 kills for UIS and had four blocks while Jailyn Borum notched 10 kills with 22 digs.

Wentworth had a career-night as well, racking up 47 assists, which is a career-best for the junior. Her previous high was 42 in her freshman campaign in 2015.

Courtney Schutt added 20 digs while UIS as a team totaled 12 blocks on the night. Alli Splitt was credited with six of those and Brianna Bush added five.

UIS will return home on Saturday to take on McKendree University, who is currently on a 12-match winning streak and leading the central division.

PRAIRIE STAR NOTES: With the win, UIS ties the program mark for wins in the Division II era with 11 … In addition, UIS broke the conference win record with their fifth win … The win solidifies a top-eight seed for UIS entering the Mizuno Midwest Crossover next weekend.