The University of Illinois Springfield volleyball starts conference play this week at TRAC. The Prairie Stars take on Quincy on Friday evening at 7 p.m., followed by a 3 p.m. contest on Saturday against Truman State. UIS is the defending GLVC Regular Season Champion after tying for first last year with a 15-3 record.
 
UIS (8-4, 0-0)
UIS enters the start of GLVC play with an 8-4 overall record. The Prairie Stars have won five out of their last six games, including a 3-1 victory last week over nationally-ranked Hillsdale. The Prairie Stars also defeated Tiffin and Findlay to make their current winning streak three matches.
 
UIS currently ranks tenth in the GLVC with a .204 hitting percentage, and it is ninth with a .178 opponent hitting percentage. The Prairie Stars are fourth defensively with 16.44 digs a match.
 
Hannah Nicolaisen and Alli Splitt are both averaging just under three kills a set. Becca Blakeley has been the team's primary setter this year, and she averages 10.22 assists a set. She also leads the team with 18 service aces. Defensively, Jailyn Borum averages 4.59 digs a set, and Brianna Bush has a team-high 0.88 blocks a set.
 
About Quincy (5-8, 0-0)
Quincy is currently 5-8 on the year, but has won four out of its last five games. The team is hitting .186 on the year, and it has a .240 opponent hitting percentage.
 
Emily Rehagen and Sarah Brown have combined for 5.79 kills a set. Makayla Knoblauch is the team's setter, and she averages 9.20 assists a set. Sarah Blair leads the team with 3.06 digs a set, and Sarah Brown and Baylie Stephens both average 0.59 blocks a set.
 
UIS vs. Quincy Series History (Since 2007)
UIS is 6-9 against Quincy since the start of the 2007 season, including a 6-7 mark since joining the GLVC. In that span, the Prairie Stars are 3-4 at home against the Hawks. UIS has won three straight in the series, including a straight-set win last year.
 
About Truman (6-6, 0-0)
Truman enters play this week with a 6-6 overall record, including going 3-1 at the Bellarmine Tournament last weekend. On the season, the team is hitting .173, and opponents are hitting .166 against them.
 
Morgan Smith is the team's leading hitter with over four kills a set, and Sam Yancy and Jocelynn Livingston are both averaging around three kills a set. Setter Elise Hardesty is assisting on 9.28 kills a set. Lauren Wacker has recorded 5.71 digs a set, and Ainsley Heise is the top blocker with 0.84 blocks a set.
 
UIS vs. Truman Series History
UIS is 2-6 all-time against Truman, including a 0-2 mark at TRAC in Springfield, Ill. The Prairie Stars have won in each of the last two years, including a 3-1 victory last year in Kirksville, Mo.

GLVC Standings
UIS finished tied for first in the GLVC in 2018 with a 15-3 record. Truman also made the GLVC Tournament after finishing tied for seventh with a 10-8 mark. Quincy tied for 12th in the league in 2018 with a 2-16 record.
 
Up Next
UIS first GLVC road trip will take the squad to Missouri S&T (Oct. 4) and Maryville (Oct. 5).