The University of Illinois Springfield volleyball team started off fast on Thursday night in its GLVC opener at TRAC. The Prairie Stars could not maintain the momentum though throughout the match as it fell to Missouri-St. Louis by scores of 21-25, 25-21, 25-16, and 25-20.
 
UIS broke a 3-3 tie in the first set and never trailed again. A late Missouri-St. Louis run got the set within 22-20, but three attack errors by the Tritons helped the Prairie Stars pull out the match.
 
UIS also held a lead late in the second set, but a 6-0 run by the Tritons gave them a 23-20 lead, and Missouri-St. Louis held on to tie the match at one set apiece.
 
Missouri-St. Louis continued that momentum by jumping out to a 9-2 lead in the third set. UIS got within three at several points, but could never get closer. In the final set, Missouri-St. Louis pulled out to a 20-13 lead after an 11-3 run. A 5-0 run got the Prairie Stars back in the set, and they got within 21-20. The Tritons closed out the match though with four straight points.
 
UIS held Missouri-St. Louis to just .155 hitting on the night, and the Tritons had 31 attack errors. UIS recorded 13 blocks and 74 digs. The Prairie Stars had a 60-37 disadvantage though in kills.
 
Amanda McConnell led the team defensively with 32 digs, and Brianna Bush and Becca Blakeley each had six blocks. Hannah Nicolaisen recorded 13 kills and hit .314. Bush collected eight kills, and Blakeley had 32 assists.
 
UIS falls to 2-7 on the year. The Prairie Stars travel to Rockhurst on Saturday for their next GLVC matchup.