KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - The Truman State Volleyball program made a furious comeback to force their ninth fifth-set match of the season and sixth in their last seven contest but the Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars spoiled the home opener by taking the fifth and winning the match 3-2 on Thursday night in Pershing Arena.

The Bulldogs had been swept by UIS 3-0 in the previous three matchups but overcame a five-point deficit at 15-10 to take set one by a 25-22 tally. Jessica Proszenyak and Autumn Erickson both had five kills in the opening stanza.

UIS kept Truman State at arms length in set two and won 25-20 and after trailing 12-8 in set three scored five of six points to overtake the Bulldogs and eventually win the set 25-19 to go up 2-1 in the match.

Set four started with UIS going up 7-1 and took their largest lead at 10-3 early on. The momentum flipped and the Bulldogs gradually clawed their way back to trail 14-12. With UIS up 18-15, Truman State exploded for a 12-2 run, including the final seven points to force the fifth set 25-19.

However another slow start in the set was something the Bulldogs could not overcome. UIS led 4-1 and 8-3 at the change over and eventually won the deciding set 15-9.

Erickson finished with a team-high 17 kills and Proszenyak with 15. She also had a team-high 22 digs.

The Bulldogs will look to breakthrough against the GLVC leader Quincy on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.