The University of Illinois Springfield volleyball team won its second straight GLVC match on Saturday at TRAC. The Prairie Stars defeated McKendree by scores of 19-25, 28-26, 25-23, and 25-21.
 
UIS dropped the first set and was down 24-21 in the second set when it came storming back. UIS went on a 3-0 run to force extra points, with Ryleigh Warfel getting back-to-back kills and Amanda McConnell collecting a service ace. McKendree had another set point at 25-24, but two straight kills by Hannah Nicolaisen gave UIS the advantage. After the Bearcats tied it at 26, Warfel had another kill, and Haley Allen ended the set with a service ace.
 
UIS used a 4-0 run midway through the third set to take a 18-16 lead, and it never gave it up. McKendree tried to stage a comeback, but Angela Denney recorded a kill on the team's third set point for a two-point victory.
 
The fourth set was also close, with the two teams tied at 17. UIS scored the next three points, and finished the match on an 8-4 run.
 
UIS's defense was the difference. McKendree hit .314 in the first set, but UIS held it to just a .120 mark for the final three sets. McConnell finished with 19 digs, and Nicolaisen had a team-high six blocks. Nicolaisen, Megan Krasowski, and Becca Blakeley all had double-figure dig totals.
 
Offensively, the duo of Denney and Warfel combined for 29 of the team's 53 kills. Allen had two service aces, and Becca Blakeley collected 37 assists.
 
UIS improves to 4-8 on the year and 2-2 in GLVC play. The Prairie Stars are home again next Friday for a Homecoming Contest against Quincy.