A brief home stand after nine straight matches on the road to kick off the season didn't go the way the Prairie Fire hoped it would.

Knox lost its Midwest Conference opener to Illinois College 3-0 Tuesday night at Memorial Gymnasium. The setback followed a 3-0 defeat against Iowa Wesleyan last Saturday in the Prairie Fire's first match at home last Saturday.

The Lady Blues (1-7, 1-0 MWC) posted set victories of 25-16, 25-22, 25-11 to earn their first win of the season.  I.C. has played its first eight matches away from home.

The Prairie Fire (0-11, 0-1 MWC) got a team-high 10 kills from senior Kelly Ricketts (Galesburg, Illinois), who also had 13 digs and a pair of service aces.  Fellow senior Lisa Blagg (Winthrop Harbor, Illinois) led all players with 15 assists while sophomore Kaylie Prince (Westminster, Colorado) and junior Brittany Wisniewski (Park Ridge, Illinois) tied for team-high honors with 14 digs apiece.

I.C. had 11 service aces in the match, led by Maurissa Moulton's seven.

Knox heads back out on the road for a conference match against Grinnell College (2-10, 0-0 MWC) Thursday at 7:00 p.m.  The Fire then plays two matches Friday and two more Saturday in the Luther College Tournament before traveling to league foe St. Norbert College (8-4, 0-0 MWC) September 30 for a 7:00 p.m. match.

Knox returns home for a MWC contest against Carroll University (7-8, 0-0 MWC) October 7 at 7:00 p.m.

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