Publish Date


The University of Illinois Springfield volleyball team begins GLVC play for the 2024 season with their first home matches of the year. The Prairie Stars face off against Missouri S&T on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. and Maryville at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Friday night will be the Home Opener and Youth Night while Saturday in the annual Homecoming game. 

UIS is 8-3 after three consecutive weekends at tournaments. Last weekend, the Prairie Stars competed at the PSU Regional Challenge in Pittsburg, Kansas. Thursday night, UIS was able to defeat Emporia State in a thrilling four-set battle (25-23, 17-25, 28-26, 25-16). Friday night, the Stars took on the hosts, Pittsburg State, where they saw their winning streak end as the Gorillas were able to sweep the Prairie Stars (18-25, 19-25, 19-25). UIS wrapped up the PSU Regional Challenge on Saturday against Harding in what turned out to be the most competitive contest of the weekend. Back and forth the entire time, Harding was able to pull out the win with a reverse sweep (25-19, 27-25, 31-33, 19-25, 8-15). 

  • Makenna Cox leads the Prairie Stars with 176 kills, coming in at 8th in Division II in total kills, 7th in kills per set (4.63), and 7th in points per set (5.17)

  • Eirini Glynou is a close second in kills with 132

  • Erica Sledge has registered 377 assists so far, 38th in Division II

  • Anna Laincz has 19 services aces on the season, 59th in Division II

  • Kendall Johnson has 28 blocks on the season and Carly Michels is close behind with 26

  • Cox, Glynou, Sledge, and Laincz are the top four in digs on the team as well

UIS vs. Missouri S&T

Date/Time/Location: Friday, September 27, 6:00 p.m. - Springfield, Ill. | TRAC

Streaming ($): GLVCSN 

Live Stats: uisprairiestars.com

All-Time Series: S&T leads 15-6 (S&T leads 7-5 in Springfield)

  • Missouri S&T comes into the weekend with a 2-8 overall record

  • The Miners went 0-3 at the PSU Regional Challenge last weekend

  • Alina Carrillo leads the Miners with 130 kills, averaging 3.51 per set

  • Elise Mehaffy has registered 174 assists, 5.58 per set

  • Annie Arand also has 129 assists on the season, 4.03 per set

  • Avery Jones has 119 digs, while Carrillo is a close second with 117

  • Madison Smith has recorded 49 blocks, 1.29 per set

UIS vs. Maryville

Date/Time/Location: Saturday, September 28, 3:00 p.m. - Springfield, Ill. | TRAC

Streaming ($): GLVCSN 

Live Stats: uisprairiestars.com

All-Time Series: UIS leads 15-4 (UIS leads 10-0 in Springfield)

  • Maryville comes into the weekend with a 5-5 overall record

  • Has played against four GLVC teams in tournaments, going 3-1 in the process

  • Ella Brinkmann leads the Saints with 114 kills, averaging 3.08 per set

  • Lilly Stanton has registered 130 assists, with Rachel Schipper close behind with 126

  • Taylor Hasbrook already has 204 digs on the season, averaging 5.51 per set

  • Brinkmann also has 110 digs on the season

  • Hanna Dressing leads the Saints in blocks with 35