SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (10-6, 4-3) continue their Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) schedule this week as they welcome in Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) and (RV) McKendree. This weekends matches will begin the second half of the season as UIS has already played 16 of their 31 scheduled matches.

SETTING THE SCENE
Illinois Springfield (10-6, 4-3) are winners of their last two matches, beating Southern Indiana and Truman State in straight sets. UIS is looking for their third streak this season of at least three consecutive wins.

UMSL (11-5, 4-4) began the season by winning nine of their first ten matches but have since lost four of their last six. The Tritons are coming off a three-set win over William Jewell and have played seven of their 16 matches as true road games.

(RV) McKendree (12-3, 7-0) owns the GLVC's longest winning streak, winning their last 11 matches and join #3 Lewis University as the only two teams left unbeaten in GLVC play. After beginning the year 1-3 at their opening tournament, McKendree has yet to be beaten, only  playing three home matches in that span.

A LOOK AT THE GLVC
As the halfway point of the season has passed, of the final 15 matches of the regular season, 11 will be within the GLVC. UIS is currently in second place in the GLVC central division, three games back of McKendree and half a game up on UMSL.

As has been the case in the past, eight teams will make the conference tournament. However, this year, each division winner will receive an automatic bid with five additional teams earning a wild card. Currently, UIS sits in a three-way tie for sixth place.

UIS will play seven more matches within their division.

AMONG THE NATIONS BEST
Alyssa Hasler currently ranks among the nation's best in blocking. The junior from South Bend, Indiana ranks third in the nation in blocks per set (1.41) and fifth in total blocks (79). Of those 79 blocks, 11 have been of the solo nature with the other 68 recorded as block assists.

In addition, Hasler ranks third in the GLVC in attack percentage (.346), ranking 51^st in the country in that same category.

RECORD PACE
The Prairie Stars tied the mark for most wins in a season in the Division II era (since 2009) last year with 11 wins. UIS will look to tie and pass that mark this weekend, still with 16 matches to play.

ALL-TIME RESULTS
UIS owns a 1-8 all-time record against UMSL, picking up that lone with last year with a 3-1 victory in Springfield.

On the flip side, UIS owns a 1-9 all-time record against McKendree, winning their first ever match-up in 2011, and dropping the next nine matches.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
McKendree brings with them the conference leader in kills, as Arela Williams enters the weekend with 253 total kills. Amanda Geiger ranks fourth in the same category with 201 kills, making the Bearcats the lone team with two players with over 200 kills.

UIS owns the best overall hitting percentage of the three teams (.222), but McKendree ranks second in the league in blocks (2.35 per set).

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