SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (8-6, 2-3) fell to the Bellarmine Knights (12-2, 3-2) in straight sets on Friday night, but were best by just four total points in the first two sets. UIS dropped the opener 25-23 before falling in the second 26-24. The Knights closed out the match with a 25-17 win in the third.

In the opening set, UIS jumped out to a 10-6 lead but Bellarmine responded with three straight points to make it 10-9. UIS never surrendered the lead though, eventually pushing the lead to 19-15, forcing the Knights into a timeout. A kill from Brianna Bush pushed the UIS lead to 21-18 but the Knights finally closed the gap, scoring three straight points to tie the set at 21.

UIS went up 23-22 after the teams traded points but Bellarmine responded with the final three points to take the opener 25-23.

In the second, UIS got out to a 3-0 lead but Bellarmine rallied to tie the match at 6-6. UIS then went on the longest scoring run of the night, scoring seven consecutive points to take a 13-6 lead. After four straight points from the Knights, to make it 15-12, UIS had an illegal sub, which awarded the Knights another point. Bellarmine rallied for five straight points and 11 of the next 13 to take a 19-17 lead.

UIS fought back though and tied the match at 21, 22, 23, and 24 but couldn't break through and Bellarmine took the set 26-24 on consecutive kills.

In the third, Bellarmine jumped out to a 5-1 lead and saw it grow to 15-5. Not going down without a fight, UIS rallied for six straight points and seven of the next eight, but Bellarmine closed out the match 25-17.

Taylor Bauer led the way for UIS with 12 kills while Alyssa Hasler committed just one error and collected four kills. Tiffany Wentworth led the way with 23 assists while Lexi Hall added 12. Ally Vicsik tallied 11 digs and six assists.

The Prairie Stars will return to the court on Saturday for a match with Southern Indiana at 3 PM.