Lake Superior State dropped a thriller in four sets to Illinois-Springfield to open the Midwest Regional Crossover in Hammond, IN.

Despite an outstanding performance by Morgan Deming and tremendous defense at the net, the Lakers (0-13, 0-8 GLIAC) were beaten 27-25. 25-20, 22-25, 25-22 by the Prairie Stars (8-9. 1-5 GLVC). Deming scored 12 kills on 18 swings with just one attacking error, a quality, efficient outing by the junior middle.

The Lakers registered one solo block and 18 block assists as a team, five each by Caitlyn Matelski and Jenna DeRosia. Deming had another four block assists for LSSU.

DeRosia excelled from the service line. In the third set, which the Lakers won 25-22, he scored two service aces in the set-winning four point run. Elisa Rizzoli and Morgan Deming both scored kills in that stretch. Valeriya Varnakova had a pair of service aces earlier in the set, while Rizzoli consistently attacked the Prairie Stars, scoring four kills in the frame. The Lakers produced six runs of four or more consecutive points during the match, and hit for a .189 mark, their second-best total of the season. Led by Deming, who hit an outstanding .611, they went toe-to-toe with UIS.

Vanessa Swerdon passed very well, scoring 19 assists. Avery Headworth registered another 16 for LSSU, and the team had 37 assists to one error.

Defensively, Varnakova led the team with 14 kills, the only Laker in double figures. Gia Waters notched nine, while Hedworth and Swerdon each tallied eight. Each set was close, with very little separating the two sides. But the Prairie Stars rallied effectively. The Lakers trailed in the opening set, 22-20, rallied to force set point, but lost five of the next six points to UIS. The Prairie Stars were particularly effective at capping Laker runs before they became runaway leads. It led to an exciting, entertaining match that was a near-run thing for both teams. But UIS ended up the match winner in four.

The Lakers play twice on Saturday at the Hammond Sportsplex. They face Southwest Baptist at 10:00 AM Eastern time, then William Jewell at 3:00 PM Eastern. Both opponents represent the GLVC conference. LSSU returns to GLIAC play on October 24^th against Wisconsin-Parkside and hosts Saginaw Valley State on October 30^th at 7:00 PM.