MOUNT Vernon, Iowa – The Prairie Fire came up short in their bid to hand Cornell College its first Midwest Conference loss of the season.

The Rams defeated Knox 3-0 (27-25, 25-17, 25-18) to remain on top of the league standings and unbeaten in MWC play.

The Prairie Fire started strong and built a 17-12 lead in the first set before Cornell (15-6, 6-0 MWC) scored 10 of the next 15 points to force a 22-22 tie.  A kill by sophomore Nicole Heckman (Chicago, IL, Chicago Latin) and an attack error by the Rams had Knox on the verge of taking the set, leading 24-22.  But Cornell scored five of the next six points to snatch the game away from the Prairie Fire, 27-25.

Knox (3-22, 1-5 MWC) and Cornell played through seven ties, the last one 9-9, before the Rams scored six unanswered points for a 15-9 lead in the second set.  The Prairie Fire got as close as 21-15 on a kill by first-year Kyleigh Guthals (Clovis, NM, Clovis), but Cornell closed out the set with a 25-17 win.

The Rams pulled in front 10-4 to open the third set, stretched the lead to eight at 20-12, and prevailed 25-18 to win the match in straight sets.

Guthals led Knox with 10 kills followed by first-year Rose Griffin (Maryland Heights, MO, Rosati-Kain) – the most recent Midwest Conference Offensive Performer of the Week – with nine kills.  Junior Casey Stachelski (Joliet, IL, Plainfield Central) led all players with 27 assists and sophomore Holly Bieber (Chicago, IL, Walter Payton College Prep) reached double-figures in digs with 10.  Heckman and Griffin also had three block assists in the contest.

The Prairie Fire resume play on October 24 at home against Carroll University at 7:00 p.m.