The University of Illinois Springfield volleyball team will be on the road for its next four GLVC games, starting with this week's trip to McKendree and Southern Indiana. The Prairie Stars will meet the Bearcats at 7 p.m. on Friday, and will take on Southern Indiana on Saturday at 3 p.m.
 
UIS (15-10, 5-4)
UIS has gone 2-1 over the last seven days, including a 1-1 mark in GLVC games. The Prairie Stars swept Lindenwood and Purdue Northwest, and fell in five sets versus nationally-ranked Missouri-St. Louis.
 
The Prairie Stars have been better this season in quick matches. UIS is 11-4 in matches decided in three sets, but just 4-6 in four or five set matches, including 1-4 in matches that go the distance.
 
UIS has taken the GLVC lead in blocking, averaging 2.44 blocks a set. Last week, it put up 3.36 blocks a set. Brianna Bush had 10 blocks against Lindenwood, and Alli Splitt set a program-record with 15 against Missouri-St. Louis.
 
About McKendree (11-12, 4-5)
McKendree has gone 1-1 in each of its last three GLVC weekends. Last week, it defeated Bellarmine in five sets, before falling to Indianapolis in three.
 
McKendree is currently seventh in the GLVC with a .204 hitting percentage, and 14^th with a .219 opponent hitting mark.
 
Elle Russell currently leads the team with 246 kills, and four others have over 150 on the year. Kelly Voss leads the squad with 222 digs, and Megan Marks and Hope Gramly have 81 and 80 blocks, respectively.
 
UIS vs. McKendree Series History (Since 2007)
Since 2007, UIS is 7-12 against McKendree, including a 5-12 record in GLVC matches. UIS is 3-5 in that span on McKendree's home court. UIS has won two straight in the series, winning both matches last year by a 3-0 margin.
 
About Southern Indiana (11-13, 3-6)
Southern Indiana has dropped four out of its last five conference contests. Last weekend, the Screaming Eagles fell 3-2 at Indianapolis and 3-0 at Bellarmine.
 
Southern Indiana has one of the top serving teams in the GLVC, averaging 1.63 aces a set. It is also in the top-five in blocking.
 
Leah Anderson is the team's top offensive threat, averaging 3.16 kills a set. Defensively, five players average over two digs a set, and Elexis Coleman is the top blocker with 0.93 blocks a set.
 
UIS vs. Southern Indiana Series History
UIS is 6-9 all-time against Southern Indiana, and it has won five straight in the series. The Prairie Stars are 2-4 in matches played in Evansville, Ind. The two teams played a non-conference game earlier this year, with UIS winning in three sets in Springfield, Ill. UIS hit .261 in the match, led by Alli Splitt who had eight kills in 10 attempts.
 
GLVC Standings
UIS is currently tied for seventh in the conference standings with a 5-4 GLVC mark. McKendree is one game behind and tied for ninth, and Southern Indiana is in a tie for 12^th.
 
Up Next
Following a home non-conference contest on Tuesday against Parkside, UIS will return to the road for GLVC contests on Nov. 8 at Drury and Nov. 9 at Southwest Baptist.