On Saturday, the Prairie Stars faced the Southwest Baptist Bearcats in a competitive five-set match. UIS started strong, pulling ahead with a six-point lead midway through the first set and securing it 25-20. However, Southwest Baptist responded by raising their intensity, taking both the second and third sets with scores of 25-23 and 25-18. The Prairie Stars regrouped in the fourth set, pushing through the pressure to win 25-18, forcing a decisive fifth set. UIS jumped to an early 6-3 lead in the final set, but Southwest Baptist rallied, driven by Ella Rademaker's relentless attacks that challenged the UIS defense throughout the match. A powerful kill by Katie Pogue and a service ace sealed the 15-13 victory for the Bearcats in a hard-fought finish.
- Rockhurst enters the weekend on a seven-game winning streak
- Tera Reberry leads the Hawks with 287 kills, averaging 3.73 per set
- Sarah Pyle is close behind with 208 kills averaging 2.77 per set
- Sarah Montague has recorded 482 assists, averaging 6.26 per set
- Maureen Reilly and Pyle lead the team as #3 and #4 in GLVC for service aces with 33 and 31
- Reilly also leads the team with 427 digs, averaging 5.55 per set
The William Jewell Cardinals entered the weekend on a high note after winning two out of three matches at the Midwest Regional Crossover in Hammond, Ind. On Friday night, they faced Truman State in a tightly contested match, but Truman emerged with a clean sweep (22-25, 20-25, 23-25).
On Saturday, William Jewell squared off against Upper Iowa on their home court. The Cardinals claimed the first two sets with ease, building an early 16-10 lead in the second set. They looked to sweep with a third-set win, but Upper Iowa rallied to take sets three and four, forcing a decisive fifth set. Upper Iowa established an early 10-3 lead in the final set, and although the Cardinals fought back, it was too late. Marissa Becker closed the match with a kill, sealing the victory for the Peacocks (25-10, 25-18, 15-25, 13-25, 8-15).
Date/Time/Location: Saturday, Nov.2, 3:00 p.m. - Mabee Center
All-Time Series: WJC leads 8-7 (WJC leads 5-3 at home against UIS)
- Bella LaPorta leads the team with 338 kills and 290 digs
- Alexis Nunn is close behind with 285 digs averaging 3.35 per set
- Samantha Thompson has recorded 449 assists, averaging 5.40 per set
- Bella LaPorta is #4 in GLVC for kills, averaging 4.00 per set
- Samantha Thompson is also #5 in GLVC for service aces