Galesburg, IL – The Prairie Fire is still seeking its first Midwest Conference win of the season after Ripon College defeated the Prairie Fire on Saturday at Memorial Gym.

The Red Hawks (9-16, 3-3 MWC) scored the first three points of the first set en route to a 25-13 win to go up 1-0 in the match.

Ripon scored the first point of the second set before ties at 1-1 and 2-2.  A kill gave the Red Hawks a 3-2 lead, and while the Prairie Fire (2-24, 0-5 MWC) would get within one point about half-way through the set, Ripon never trailed again and prevailed 25-16.

A kill by junior Kaylie Prince (Westminster, CO, Standley Lake) gave Knox the first point of set three.  After four ties the Red Hawks led 5-4.  Knox fought back to tie the set at 9-9, 10-10, and 11-11.  However, Ripon scored three straight points for a 14-11 advantage and never trailed again.  Knox got as close as 14-13 but the Red Hawks answered with three consecutive points and went on to take the set 25-18 and the match 3-0.

The loss was the 10th straight for the Prairie Fire, who last won at Eureka College (3-1) on September 26.

Junior Amber Eisha (South Wilmington, IL, Gardner-South Wilmington) led Knox with nine kills.  Prince and senior Kristin McDonald (Chicago, IL, Regina Dominican) added six kills apiece.  McDonald also had seven digs.  First-year setter Casey Stachelski (Joliet, IL, Plainfield) finished with 21 assists and seven digs.

The Prairie Fire plays its next three matches, all Midwest Conference contests, on the road.  Knox is at Lawrence University on October 19, St. Norbert College on October 20, and Monmouth College on October 23.

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