"I'm really happy with the strides we've made as a team this preseason. We played tough competition this weekend and were able to see some athletes step up to the challenge!" shared Head Coach Laura Ulrich. "We fought through some injuries and won a 5 set match to end the weekend which always feels good. Looking forward to starting conference this next weekend!" 
UIS Volleyball defeated Arkansas Tech 3-2 on Saturday at MWSU Fieldhouse. This match was a thriller from the first points to the last and ended the tournament weekend on a high note for the Prairie Stars.

The Prairie Stars started the first set with kills from Kendall Johnson and Alyssa Gray to lead 2-0, but Arkansas Tech moved in front 6-5 and later built a 14-8 advantage. Johnson and Makenna Cox each finished the set with four kills for Illinois Springfield, which got back within 18-14 before Arkansas Tech scored the next five points. Arkansas Tech took the set 25-15.

Illinois Springfield turned the second set from a 5-6 deficit into a 12-7 lead by winning seven of eight rallies, including four straight points on Khadijah Blue's serve. Arkansas Tech later cut the margin to 15-13, but the Prairie Stars would close the set 25-18. Cox and Blue finished it with back-to-back kills, both assisted by Madi Siefken.

The Prairie Stars kept the third set within reach late, using a Kendall Johnson kill and service ace to move in front 19-18. Arkansas Tech answered and later reached set point at 24-22, and Cox's kill from Madi Siefken pulled Illinois Springfield within 24-23 before Arkansas Tech closed the set 25-23.

A 6-6 tie in the fourth set gave way to four straight Prairie Stars points on Emma Frazier's serve, including a Siefken-Blue block and a Blue kill, to go ahead 10-6. Makenna Cox added two service aces during a later stretch and finished the set with the final kill as Illinois Springfield took the set 25-15.

In the fifth set, Illinois Springfield turned a 5-4 deficit into a 10-5 lead with a six-point run, with Emma Frazier serving through five straight points and recording two aces. Cox added two kills during that stretch, and Blue had another to help the Prairie Stars take control of the set. Gray closed it with consecutive kills from Siefken for a 15-9 UIS win.

The Prairie Stars finished with 65 kills and a .331 hitting percentage compared with 61 kills and a .277 mark for Arkansas Tech, and they also held an 11-5 advantage in service aces.

Makenna Cox finished with 23 kills, 26 points, 11 digs and three service aces. Kendall Johnson added 17 kills while hitting .395 and served four aces. Madi Siefken recorded a career-best 55 assists, eight digs and three block assists. Emma Frazier collected a team-high 14 digs and added two service aces.

"I'm really happy with the strides we've made as a team this preseason. We played tough competition this weekend and were able to see some athletes step up to the challenge!" said Head Coach Laura Ulrich. "We fought through some injuries and won a 5 set match to end the weekend which always feels good. Looking forward to starting conference this next weekend!" 

Up next, the Prairie Stars travel to UIndy to open conference play on Friday, Sept. 18, at 5 p.m.