Illinois Springfield lost to Rockhurst 3-0 (20-25, 13-25, 18-25) in a GLVC volleyball match on Friday. The Prairie Stars finished with 28 kills and a .156 hitting percentage, while Rockhurst totaled 49 kills and hit .409.
UIS recovered from an early 7-1 deficit in the first set, with
Alyssa Gray and
Kendall Johnson contributing kills and
Khadijah Blue adding a block as the visitors worked back into contention.
Emma Frazier's service ace brought Illinois Springfield level at 18-18, and
Madi Siefken's kill tied it again at 19-19. Rockhurst answered with five straight points and took the set 25-20.
The Prairie Stars could not turn early chances into a sustained run in the second set, falling behind 5-1 before kills by
Alexis Schwartz and Blue cut the score to 5-3. Johnson later added a kill and a service ace as the Prairie Stars reached 9-14, but Rockhurst answered with another stretch to push the margin to 21-11, then closed the set 25-13.
The Prairie Stars' clearest push came on
Eva Huerta's serve, when they scored four straight points to cut Rockhurst's third-set lead to 17-13, including a
Maddie Mendelblatt-
Alyssa Gray block, a Huerta kill and a Mendelblatt kill. Rockhurst halted the run and later led 21-13, though UIS added a late ace from
Marley Christy and a
Kendall Johnson kill. Rockhurst closed the third set 25-18.
Kendall Johnson led the Prairie Stars with nine kills and 10.5 points, adding five digs, one ace and one block assist.
Madi Siefken finished with 15 assists, two digs and a block assist.
Emma Frazier collected a team-high 10 digs and served one ace.
Maddie Mendelblatt recorded six kills on nine attacks while hitting .556 and added two blocks.
Up next, the Prairie Stars visit William Jewell on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 4 p.m. in Liberty, Mo.
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