SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars will conclude their 2016 season this weekend with matches against Southern Indiana on Friday and Bellarmine on Saturday. On Saturday, UIS will recognize its five seniors on this year's team: Kayla Katarzynski, Carly Wesolowski, Ashley Beaton, Hailey Vitacco, and Sarah Bond.

SETTING THE SCENE
UIS comes into the match having lost its last three matches, all in conference play. Prior to those three matches, UIS had won consecutive games against UMSL and Maryville, both in Springfield. The Prairie Stars are getting set for a rematch with both Southern Indiana and Bellarmine, having played them both earlier in the season.

On the road, UIS fell to Southern Indiana in straight sets after coming up short against Bellarmine in five-sets the night before. Last season, UIS beat Bellarmine in five sets in their first meeting before sweeping the final series of the season, beating Southern Indiana in five and Bellarmine in four.

SPLITT AMONG NATIONS BEST
In her freshman campaign, Alli Splitt has made her presence known, currently ranking second in the league in hitting percentage. Splitt owns a .377 attack percentage, just seven points below the league leader, Sophie Fairman of McKendree. Splitt is on track to break the single-season attack percentage mark of .321, set by Ellie Minder in 2001.

With that, Splitt is ranked 18^th in the nation but is the active leader among all NCAA Division II freshman at her .377 mark. The next best freshman is at a .358 mark from Azusa Pacific.

HASLER LEADS GLVC
Sophomore middle blocker, Alyssa Hasler, currently leads the GLVC in total blocks (126), leading in block assists (111) and ranking in the top-five with solo blocks (15). Hasler is one of two players in the conference to average more than 1.06 blocks per set, turning back 1.19 attacks per set.

RECORD BOOK WATCH
As previously stated, Splitt is on track to demolish the single-season attack percentage record, currently held by Ellie Minder in the 2001 season. Splitt is currently attacking at a .377 clip, 56 points better than Minder's .321 mark.

Lexi Hall currently has 1,455 career assists and sits fourth all-time. The junior setter is 92 assists away from passing Rebeka Pruemer for third all-time.

Senior libero, Kayla Katarzynski is currently third all-time on the digs list with 1,668. She sits just 19 behind Lauren Sanders for second all-time.

After not even two full seasons, Hasler already sits second all-time in block assists (212) behind 2016 Hall of Fame Inductee Audra Roach. She also sits second in total blocks (245) behind only Roach, who had 441 career total blocks.

SENIOR DAY CEREMONY
Prior to the 3 pm match on Saturday, UIS will recognize the five seniors on the 2016 team. Wesolowski, Beaton, Vitacco, and Katarzynski are all four year members of the Prairie Stars while Bond suited up for the Prairie Stars in three seasons. The ceremony will take place at approximately 2:55 pm.