Illinois Springfield dropped a three-set match at Maryville on Friday evening, falling 25-13, 25-22, 25-20 at Moloney Arena in St. Louis. The Prairie Stars (12-13, 4-8 GLVC) totaled five service aces and had two players finish with double-digit kills.

Maryville used a late first-set surge to pull away after UIS kept things tight early behind swings from Madison Siefken and Makenna Cox. The Saints took advantage of a handful of UIS miscues to close out the opening set.

The Prairie Stars responded with a stronger second set. Erica Sledge helped spark the offense by finding Cox and Siefken in rhythm, and Kendall Johnson added a key service ace to cut the deficit to two. Maryville, however, held off the late charge and secured the frame 25-22.

UIS jumped ahead 7-3 in the third with kills from Sledge and Siefken and an ace from Kaitlyn Taylor, later stretching the margin to 13-8. Maryville countered with a 8-3 run to tie the set at 15 and carried that momentum the rest of the way, closing the match with a 25-20 decision.

Siefken led UIS with 12 kills, 11 digs, and 14.5 points. Cox matched her with 12 kills and added 15 digs, while Sledge finished with 26 assists and seven digs. Lexie Vick posted a team-high five blocks at the net.

Up Next
The regular season finale at Missouri S&T is set for 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.