The University of Illinois Springfield volleyball team will start the first weekend of GLVC pod play on its home court. The Prairie Stars will host a conference triangular on Saturday with Truman State and nationally-ranked Missouri S&T.
 
UIS enters the weekend with a 1-3 overall record, but is coming off a near-upset over No. 2 Lewis last Friday. The Prairie Stars forced a fifth set before coming up just short in a 15-9 decision in the final game. Megan Krasowski led UIS with 11 kills and, defensively, Amanda McConnell had 30 digs, the most in a match in the GLVC this year.
 
UIS will look to start fast in its two matches this week. The winner of the first set has gone on to win in all four of the team's matches this year.
 
Kenzie Hendon currently leads the team with 40 kills on the season, six more than Brianna Bush. Bush is hitting a team-best .341, and Regan Trueblood is the team leader with 75 assists. Defensively, Bush leads the squad with 21 blocks, and McConnell has a team-high 63 digs.
 
Please note that at this time, no fans are permitted at GLVC Volleyball events
 
UIS vs. #25 Missouri S&T
Date/Time/Location: Saturday, February 20, 10:00 a.m. – Springfield, Ill.
Streaming: https://glvcsn.com/uis
Live Stats: https://uisprairiestars.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
All-Time Series (since 2007): Missouri S&T leads 11-5 (Missouri S&T leads 6-4 in Springfield, Ill.)
 
Missouri S&T is nationally-ranked for the first time in program history after starting the year 3-1. It lost its opener to Drury, but has won three straight over William Jewell, Rockhurst, and Southwest Baptist.
 
The Miners lead the GLVC with over two service aces a set. It is also one of the top offensive teams, having a .226 hitting percentage on the year.
 
Payton Gannaway has been of the top players in the conference through three weeks. She leads the GLVC with 1.06 aces per set, and is also in the top-10 in hitting percentage, kills, and points.
 
Last season in Rolla, UIS defeated Missouri S&T by a 3-1 score. The final two sets were both decided by two points. UIS's defense led the team to a victory as it had a 13-6 edge in blocks as well as nine more digs.

UIS vs. Truman State
Date/Time/Location: Saturday, February 20, 6:00 p.m. – Springfield, Ill.
Streaming: https://glvcsn.com/uis
Live Stats: https://uisprairiestars.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
All-Time Series: Truman leads 6-3 (Truman leads 2-1 in Springfield)
 
Truman travels to Springfield with a 1-3 mark on the year, including a 1-1 record in GLVC play. The Bulldogs opened the year with a win over Maryville, but has lost twice to Quincy and once to Rockhurst.
 
Truman is led by its defense. The Bulldogs are fourth in the GLVC with both 2.18 blocks a set and 16.82 digs a set. Offensively, Truman is hitting .169 on the season.
 
Two Bulldogs rank in the top-four in the league in blocks. Ainsley Heise is averaging 1.38 a set, and Emma Berthold is knocking down 1.18 shots a game. Also on defense, Lindsay Woltering is in the top-10 with 4.76 digs a match.
 
UIS has won three straight against Truman, including a 3-0 sweep during the 2019 season.
 
Up Next
UIS will travel to Quincy on Sunday, Feb. 28, for the second weekend of GLVC pod matches. It will face Southwest Baptist and Quincy at that event.