SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (9-6, 3-3) blew past the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (3-12, 1-6) in straight sets, winning 25-16, 25-13, 25-15. UIS committed just nine errors in the match and attacked at an incredible .383 mark on the day --- their highest such mark of the season.
"After yesterday, I think we were all ready to get back on the court and play to our potential, and I think today showed that," said
Alyssa Hasler. "We started off strong and there wasn't a time when we let them get into our groove."
Incredibly, the Prairie Stars never trailed in the entire match, and the latest any set was ever tied was at 1-1. UIS used an 8-0 in the first set to open up a 15-4 lead en route to cruising to a 25-16 opening set victory.
In the second set, UIS led 9-4 but Southern Indiana rolled off four consecutive points to push the score to 9-8. However, UIS responded with eight straight points to push the lead to 17-8 and once again turned the set into a blowout, winning 25-13.
The Prairie Stars opened the third set with seven of the first eight points, and ended the match with five of the last seven to close out the sweep.
Alyssa Hasler climbed higher into conference ranking for attack percentage, collecting nine kills against zero errors, and is now hitting .352 on the season. Hasler --- who is also the conference leader in blocks --- picked up a solo block and three block assists for a total of 11.5 points on the day.
"It definitely starts with the pass," added Hasler, "which allows our setters to give me a good ball. Southern Indiana played good defense today but I was able to put it where they weren't."
Brianna Bush and
Erin Ripple --- both freshmen --- also had efficient days, collecting 17 kills and two errors between the two of them.
Taylor Bauer led the team with ten kills.
Tiffany Wentworth and
Lexi Hall supplied the attackers all day, serving up 18 and 17 assists, respectively.
Courtney Schutt, getting the start at libero, tallied 12 digs and added two aces.
"Last night gave us a taste we didn't like," said Schutt. "Our demeanor was positive all day and if we made a mistake, we fixed it right away. We have to work as a team and it's not an individual sport and that showed with how great our block was today."
UIS will head on the road for a mid-week match with Truman State on Tuesday before returning home to face Missouri-St. Louis and McKendree for interdivisional matches on Friday and Saturday.
