Illinois Springfield closed its season on Saturday with a 3-0 road loss at Missouri S&T, falling 25-17, 25-22, 25-21. The Prairie Stars finished the year at 12-14 overall and 4-9 in the GLVC.

The match began with the Prairie Stars on the back foot as Missouri S&T took an early lead, opening with a 3-0 run. Illinois Springfield responded with Makenna Cox delivering a service ace followed by a kill, narrowing the gap to 3-2. Despite this effort, Missouri S&T maintained their advantage, capitalizing on errors to extend their lead.

UIS attempted to rally with notable contributions from Kendall Johnson and Lexie Vick, who each delivered crucial kills. However, the opposition capitalized on repeated attack errors from the Prairie Stars to maintain control. The set concluded with Missouri S&T securing the win, 25-17, despite the Prairie Stars' efforts to bridge the gap.

The Prairie Stars showed resilience in the second set, highlighted by a critical stretch where they scored six consecutive points. This run included two service aces from Kaitlyn Taylor and a kill by Vick, allowing the Prairie Stars to take a 10-7 lead. Cox contributed significantly with six kills throughout the set, maintaining pressure on Missouri S&T.

Despite these efforts, Missouri S&T managed to regain momentum. The set concluded with a tight finish as Missouri S&T secured the win with a final score of 25-22.

In the third set, the Prairie Stars made a significant push to close a gap against Missouri S&T. The visitors executed a notable run, with Johnson contributing a service ace and multiple kills, bringing the score to a tense 17-17 tie. Cox's performance further helped the Prairie Stars momentarily take the lead at 18-17. However, Missouri S&T responded with a decisive series of points, regaining control and ultimately closing out the match with the third set score of 25-21.

Cox led the team with 17 kills and added nine digs, contributing 18.5 points overall. Vick posted a strong performance with seven kills and four total blocks, accumulating 10 points. Erica Sledge distributed the ball effectively with 29 assists and collected eight digs. Tuana Yuce was solid defensively, recording a team-high 15 digs and adding one service ace.

UIS concludes the regular season outside the GLVC Tournament field, finishing 12-14 overall and 4-9 in conference play.

"Tough way to end the season, but I'm very proud of the fight this team had until the end," said head coach Laura Ulrich. "The seniors should be proud of the legacy they are leaving at UIS — they will be missed! I'm looking forward to continuing to build with this team into the future."