SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The University of Illinois Springfield volleyball teams heads out on the road to open its season at Central Missouri at the 2015 Peggy Martin Challenge Presented by Comfort Inn beginning on Friday, Sept. 4 in Warrensburg, Mo.

Under first-year head coach Trey Salinas, the Prairie Stars brought in some newcomers that will have an immediate impact. Freshmen Alyssa Hasler (Marian, Ind.), Emma Burkle (Crystal Lake, Ill.), Isabela Fonseca (Brazil) and Tiffany Wentworth (Omaha, Neb.) add depth to the Prairie Star roster. UISPrairieStars.com caught up with Salinas to get his outlook on the newcomers on the roster.



Salinas inherited 13 returners including three seniors. Middle blocker Nikki Madoch (Algonquin, Ill.) finished 2014 second on the team with 213 kills and also led the team with 86 total blocks. Starting libero Kayla Katarzynski (Winfield, Ill.) is also back for 2015. She led the team with 473 digs and finished eighth in the GLVC. Junior Ashley Beaton (Wildwood, Mo.) adds athleticism to the outside and will contribute to the offense.



Overall, UIS plays nine games in 10 days all away from the friendly confines of TRAC and then immediately hits the court in mid-September to begin GLVC play. UIS opens against Western State of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) who was just 2-20 in 2014. UIS then faces off with University of Mary from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Marauders finished with a 4-25 record, but hired Thais Franca in the offseason to lead the program. On day two, St. Cloud State is up first for the Stars at noon before UIS plays No. 13 Central Missouri at 4 p.m. Salinas has high hopes for the season and is ready to see what his team can do.



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