SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The University of Illinois Springfield volleyball team held their own with the number three ranked team in the nation in the Lewis Flyers (8-1, 1-0), but ultimately fell in straight sets: 27-25, 25-20, 25-20. This was the second straight top-ten team the Prairie Stars have played, taking a set off #9 Augustana (SD) a week ago.

This was the first true home game for the Prairie Stars (5-4, 0-1) as they opened the season two weeks ago with the Capital Classic in the first week back from summer. "The crowd was amazing tonight," said senior libero Ally Vicsik. "I can't thank them enough for being here and cheering and I don't think we could have been able to keep the energy up without them tonight."

In the first set, UIS jumped out to a 5-3 lead on a kill from Jailyn Borum, but Lewis responded with five straight points to take an 8-5 lead before Alyssa Hasler ended that rally. UIS combatted the Lewis run with four of the next five points to tie the set at nine.

Down 15-12, it was Borum again with a kill to cut the deficit to 15-13 before the two teams traded points and saw the Prairie Stars trail 17-15. After a kill from the Flyers, UIS rallied for five consecutive points to take a 20-18 lead, forcing the #3 Flyers into a timeout. A kill from Alli Splitt and error from the Flyers gave UIS a 23-21 advantage, but the Flyers scored three straight points to take a 24-23 lead and land on set point.

A service error from the Flyers extended the opening set before the Prairie Stars fended off another set point on a kill from Borum. The Flyers, however, took the next two points to take the opening set 27-25.

"We played really tough in the first set and they just put it where we weren't," added Vicsik. "Our block was there and our defense was picking up attacks, but this was the toughest we have played all season."

In the second, the Flyers got out to an early 6-3 lead and did just enough to hold on the entire set. The Prairie Stars got within one but could never tie the score. UIS ran off five of seven points to cut the deficit to 24-20, but Lewis ended the set on a kill to take a 2-0 lead.

The third set began with three straight points from the Flyers before taking a 7-2 advantage. Trailing 23-15, UIS was on the verge of defeat but rattled off five straight points to force Lewis into a timeout at 23-20. The final two points went to the Flyers though, as they closed out the three-set win.

This was the second straight top-ten team the Prairie Stars faced, but the tough schedule is bringing out the best in the team. "Right now, we know how good we can play; it's just maintaining that every night. Each match, we have come in and played better than the day before and playing teams of this caliber is helping us get better because they are pushing us and we are getting comfortable with our abilities."

Taylor Bauer led the way for UIS with 11 kills against just two errors while Borum and Hasler each added seven kills. Lexi Hall totaled 16 assists while Tiffany Wentworth added 14, along with eight digs. Vicsik had 11 digs and added two aces, giving her 10 on the season and 18 for her career.

UIS will return home on Saturday, September 16^th to face Quincy University (1-8, 0-1) in an intra-divisional match at 3:00 PM. These two teams will square off again at Quincy on October 31^st.