The University of Illinois Springfield volleyball team begins GLVC play this weekend against two difficult conference opponents in Maryville and Missouri S&T. 

UIS has started the season 3-7, with all three wins coming in straight sets. At last weekend's McKendree Invitational the Prairie Stars went 1-2, with the two losses coming to other GLVC opponents in McKendree and nationally-ranked Missouri-St. Louis. 

Currently, Junior Eirini Glynou stands 4th in the GLVC in kills per set (4.24) and points per set (4.62).

Erica Sledge and Amanda McConnell are also featured on on GLVC statistical leaderboards. Sledge currently ranks 7th in the conference with 8.35 assists per set. McConnell comes in at 10th with 4.15 digs per set, a category she has repeatedly found herself in during her time at UIS. 

The Prairie Stars finished 7th in GLVC play last year, but went 0-8 on the road.

UIS vs. Maryville
Date/Time/Location: Friday, September 22, 6:00 p.m. - St. Louis, Mo. 
Streaming ($)
Live Stats
All-Time Series: UIS leads 15-3 (UIS is 5-3 in St. Louis)

The Saints come into the weekend with a 7-3 record.

Maryville also competed in the McKendree Invitational last weekend, going 2-1 with their only loss being to #5 Missouri-St. Louis. 

The GLVC leader in digs per set is Taylor Hasbrook, with an average of 5.50.

Hanna Dressing ranks 10th in the GLVC in hitting percentage, coming in at .314.

Maryville finished 8th in the GLVC last year, with a 4-8 conference record and an overall record of 17-12. 

Last year, UIS won the only meeting of the year in 5 sets in Springfield. 

UIS vs. Missouri S&T
Date/Time/Location: Saturday, September 23, 3:00 p.m. - Rolla, Mo. 
Streaming ($)
Live Stats
All-Time Series: MST leads 14-6 (MST leads 7-1 in Rolla)

The Miners come into the weekend with a 7-3 record, winning 7 of their last 8 matches. 

The Miners won their own home tournament, going 4-0. They also hosted another Volleyball Classic the next weekend, with their only loss coming to Oklahoma Baptist in five sets. 

Missouri S&T has two players in the top-10 of the GLVC in blocks per set. Madison Offerman and Hannah Feltz both are averaging over 1 block per set.

Shelby Ply also ranks 5th in the GLVC in hitting percentage, coming in at .356.

Missouri S&T finished 5th in the GLVC last year, losing in five sets to Lewis in the quarterfinals. 

Last year UIS won the matchup in Springfield 3-1, while the Miners won 3-0 in Rolla.