As the fall season picks up, UIS teams are gearing up for a weekend full of key challenges. The volleyball team heads to Pittsburg, Kan., for the PSU Regional Challenge, where they bid to build on their strong performance from the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational. Back on campus, the Prairie Stars will host a pair of soccer matches at Kiwanis Stadium on Friday night. The weekend will also feature cross country action as both the men's and women's teams compete in the John McNichol's Invitational.
Thursday, Sept. 197:00 p.m. - Volleyball vs. Emporia State (PSU Regional Challenge)
The 7-1 UIS volleyball team will travel to Pittsburg, Kansas, for the PSU Regional Challenge. Illinois Springfield will take on Emporia State for the first time in a decade, looking to secure their first win against the Hornets. UIS is coming off a successful 3-1 performance at the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational in Owensboro, Ky.
Friday, Sept 20
3:00 p.m. - Softball vs. Heartland
The Prairie Stars host the Heartland Hawks for a fall game at the UIS Softball Complex.
5:00 p.m. - Women's Soccer vs. Truman State (HOME) / Youth Night
The Prairie Stars will host a GLVC opponent at Kiwanis Stadium for the first time this season, marking the beginning of a split home-and-away weekend. UIS enters the matchup fresh off a 2-0 shutout victory against the William Jewell Cardinals, which was the first win of Scott Myers' tenure as head coach of UIS women's soccer.
7:00 p.m. - Volleyball vs. Pittsburg State (PSU Regional Challenge)
The Prairie Stars will face the host school at the PSU Regional Challenge, seeking a victory against another opponent they haven't played in several years. UIS last competed against PSU in 2011 and 2012, with PSU winning both of those matches.
7:30 p.m. - Men's Soccer vs. Truman State (HOME) / Youth Night & #WeAreStars Game
The Prairie Stars will look to secure their first win of the fall season when they host the Bulldogs at Kiwanis Stadium on Friday night. UIS is currently 0-1-2 following a 1-1 draw at William Jewell on Sunday. The result was aided by Anton Aduwa-Emovon, who netted his second goal of the week.
Saturday, Sept. 21
8:00 a.m. CT (9:00 a.m. ET) - Men's Cross Country at John McNichol's Invitational
The Prairie Stars are set to resume their fall season after a weekend off. UIS delivered a commanding performance at the Hy-Vee Prairie Stars Invitational on Friday, Sept. 6, which earned Isaac Cortes the GLVC Runner of the Week honor. The team was ranked sixth in the USTFCCCA preseason regional poll and is now awaiting the first regional and national rankings of the season, which will be released every other week from Sept. 17 through Nov. 9.
8:45 a.m. CT (9:45 a.m. ET) - Women's Cross Country at John McNichol's Invitational
UIS women's cross country looks to resume their season in Terre Haute, Ind., after a week off. They began the season with a strong performance earlier in September, winning the Hy-Vee Prairie Stars Invitational. Madelyn Miller earned the GLVC Runner of the Week honor for her outstanding performance, claiming the individual title at the event.
11:30 a.m. - Volleyball vs. Harding (PSU Regional Challenge)
UIS will conclude the PSU Regional Challenge with a match against Harding on Saturday. The Prairie Stars defeated Harding 3-0 when the teams faced off during the 2023 season.
Sunday, Sept. 22
12:00 p.m. - Women's Soccer at Quincy
The Prairie Stars go on the road to meet one of their in-state rivals, the Quincy Hawks. QU is off to a 1-3 start this fall, but defeated GLVC opponent Lewis 3-1 on Sunday, Sept. 15. The Hawks will meet Indianapolis on Friday before playing UIS.
2:30 p.m. - Men's Soccer at Quincy
Sunday's game will feature the revamped Hawks, who have started the season with a 1-2-1 record, including a notable win against the No. 8 nationally-ranked Purdue Northwest Pride. Both QU and UIS have suffered losses to the Parkside Rangers and have a 0-0-1 record in the GLVC after drawing in their conference openers on Sunday. This matchup is historically significant, as the teams first faced each other in the 1978 season and began competing as NCAA Division II members in 2010. Since then, UIS trails in the series with a 5-7-2 record against Quincy.
A Look Ahead
The men's and women's golf teams are set to resume their fall season on Monday, Sept. 23. The soccer teams continue their GLVC schedule, while GLVC competition kicks off for the volleyball team on Friday, Sept. 27. UIS men's tennis will compete at their only tournament of the fall season, the ITA Midwest Regional Championships, on Sept. 28-30. The cross country teams will have a brief hiatus from competition, with their next events scheduled for October 12.
Excitement is building for Homecoming Week, set for Sept. 22-28. This year's festivities will feature soccer games on Friday, Sept. 27, and a volleyball match on Saturday, Sept. 28. For a full schedule of events, visit the UIS Homecoming website.