Box Score

The Prairie Fire battled after a difficult first set, but couldn't get over the hump in a 3-0 Midwest Conference loss Friday night at home against Carroll University.

The Pioneers (9-11, 2-2 MWC) won the first set 25-8.  The Prairie Fire (0-19, 0-5 MWC) played much better in the second set and nearly erased Carroll's lead before the Pioneers put together a run and took the set 25-19.  The third set was similar with Knox getting close after falling behind early, but Carroll responded and won the set 25-18, and the match.

Senior Kelly Ricketts (Galesburg, Illinois) and sophomore Amber Eisha (South Wilmington, Illinois) each paced the Prairie Fire with 5 kills.  Other contributors were senior Lisa Blagg (Winthrop Harbor, Illinois) with 5 digs and sophomore Nina Mack (Algonquin, Illinois) -- making her first start of the season at setter -- with 10 assists and two aces.

Emily Goebert led Carroll with 10 kills and 11 digs.  Samantha Derynda added a match-high 22 assists.

The contest was a "Play for the Cure" match, a Midwest Conference wide cancern initiative.  Both teams and student organizations teamed up to help raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The Prairie Fire hosts Ripon College (4-18, 0-3 MWC) Saturday at 1:00.  The "Play for the Cure" fundraiser will continue, along with contests and prizes given out between the second and third set.

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