The University of Illinois Springfield volleyball team has an important week of GLVC action, taking on two teams right behind it in the conference standings.  The Prairie Stars host Bellarmine for Homecoming on Thursday at 5 p.m. On Saturday, UIS will travel to Indianapolis for a 3 p.m. (eastern) match.
 
UIS (12-5, 4-1)
UIS has played three straight four-set matches on the road in the last week, and it went 2-1 in those contests. Last weekend, the Prairie Stars defeated Missouri S&T and Maryville. Tuesday night, UIS lost to nationally-ranked Lewis.
 
One of the biggest areas of improvement for the Prairie Stars this year is in its serving game. UIS is collecting 0.66 more services aces per set, and rank fourth in the league in that category. Rachel Cobert is second in the GLVC with 0.39 service aces per set, and Becca Blakeley is sixth with a 0.36 aces average.
 
Other Prairie Stars among GLVC leaders include Blakeley being fourth in assists, Brianna Bush ranking fourth in blocks, and Jailyn Borum, last week's GLVC Defensive Player of the Week, being third in digs.
 
About Bellarmine (12-5, 3-2)
Bellarmine will come to Springfield on Thursday with wins in seven of its last nine contests. Last time out, it was swept by a 3-0 score against Indianapolis.
 
Bellarmine ranks in the top five in both hitting percentage and opponent hitting percentage. It has a .234 hitting clip, and is holding opponents to a .151 mark.
 
Jayme Scott is the top offensive threat with 3.39 kills a set. Karleigh Wilson is one of the defensive leaders with 4.19 digs a set.
 
UIS vs. Bellarmine Series History
UIS and Bellarmine have played 14 times, with each teams winning seven matches. UIS has won four straight and seven of the last nine in the series. In Springfield, the Prairie Stars have a 3-4 mark.
 
Last season, the team's met three times, with UIS winning all three matches. The closest match was in Louisville, when UIS had a 3-2 comeback win that clinched a share of the GLVC Regular Season Championship.
 
The two teams have met in each of the last two years in the first round of the GLVC Tournament. The Prairie Stars won both of those contests.
 
About Indianapolis (11-4, 3-2)
Indianapolis earned a 3-0 win at Bellarmine on Tuesday night, which improved the team's overall record to 11-4. The Greyhounds are 5-1 this season on their home court.
 
Indianapolis has one of the top offensive teams in the GLVC, averaging over 13 kills a set and recording a .239 hitting percentage.
 
Leading that offense is Katie Furlong who leads the conference with 4.11 kills a set, and ranks third with 4.32 points a set. Setter Alyssa Spears is second in the conference with 11.12 assists a set.
 
UIS vs. Indianapolis Series History
Indianapolis has had the advantage in the series history, winning eight of the nine games between the two teams. UIS is 1-3 all-time against the Greyhounds in Indianapolis. Last season, the two teams played once in Springfield, and Indianapolis won by a 3-1 margin.
 
GLVC Standings
UIS is currently fourth in the conference standings with a 4-1 GLVC mark. Indianapolis and Bellarmine are two of three teams that are tied for fifth with a 3-2 conference record.
 
Up Next
UIS will have a short break in conference action as it competes in the Midwest Regional Crossover on Oct. 18-19. The Prairie Stars return to GLVC play on Oct. 25-26 with home matches against Lindenwood and Missouri-St. Louis.