A missed call from a Springfield area code caught Alyssa Hasler's attention. The message that followed was brief, but unmistakably upbeat. Moments later, she learned she would be inducted into the Prairie Stars Hall of Fame.

"I was just honestly so happy and thrilled, but also feeling so shocked, blessed," Hasler said.

She immediately shared the news with her family — her dad first, then her mom — and spent the rest of the day replaying memories from her years as a Prairie Star. "I feel incredibly blessed and honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame," she said. "It really has just shown me that the hard work I put in during my four years at UIS were rewarded."

From Underdogs to Champions

When Hasler arrived at UIS, the volleyball program was still in the early years of its Division II era. There were challenges that came with the transition, but there was also a sense that the program was building toward something, with those early seasons helping establish the foundation for what would come next. "We were near the bottom of our conference my first two years," she said. "We were losing most of our games. And to be loyal to the program and see it through rather than just dropping in the transfer portal to go somewhere else or somewhere better… I stayed the course, saw it through. And then we became one of the winningest teams in UIS history."

The turning point came during her junior and senior seasons. The Stars made the GLVC Tournament for the first time in program history, pulled off a five-set upset over Drury, and captured the regular season championship. "Those moments were really special," Hasler said. "Being able to watch our team grow and develop and be able to become one of the top teams in UIS volleyball history and knowing that I had an impact on that was just really memorable."

A Community That Felt Like Home  

While competitive success defined her legacy, it was the UIS community that shaped her experience. "We were such a tight group of people, and it was really great to be able to support other sports, knowing that you knew at least half of the team and that they knew you. They would come and support your sport, winning or losing," she said.

Professors and staff also played a crucial role. "Marcel Yoder was one of the professors in psychology that got me into psych a little bit more," Hasler said. She also credited strength coach Chris Lowe—known affectionately as "C. Lowe"—for elevating the team's performance. "He really helped develop our team in the weight room and helped us play at the highest level we could."

Coaches Tina and Trey Salinas were especially influential. "Tina really developed me as a middle hitter," Hasler said. "Without her, I really don't think I would have gotten All-American honors and been inducted into the Hall of Fame. She really helped me grow and develop my blocking skills, which was my top skill for our team."

Lessons That Last  

The demands of being a student-athlete left a lasting imprint. "Being a student-athlete, no matter what division you're in, builds so much character and resilience," Hasler said. "There is no option to skip morning weights. There is no option to skip practice. There is no option but to get your studies done before the weekend because you have games and you're traveling."

That discipline and resilience continue to guide her life. "Having the discipline to show up when you don't want to has really impacted every part of my life," she said. "You're not going to get along with every person that you encounter. So being able to understand how to work with them despite difficulties and do what's best for the whole team is really important." 

Life After UIS  

After graduating from UIS in May 2019, Hasler moved to Texas that August to pursue a master's degree in counseling psychology at Angelo State, where she also served as a graduate assistant volleyball coach. Eventually, she returned to Illinois and worked as a mental health counselor at Millikin University before settling in Charlotte, North Carolina, to be closer to family. Today, she is a therapist at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. "I really enjoy being able to help students with their mental health," Hasler said. "It's one of my favorite things, just knowing that I'm a safe and open space for others, and I can help them navigate all of life's challenges."

She remains active, running her first half marathon last year and training for a Hyrox competition. "I'm still very much into fitness," she said. "I think that's one thing that a lot of college athletes struggle with, is the continuation, but just finding what you like is really important."

Proud to Be a Prairie Star 

For Hasler, being a Prairie Star is about more than athletics. "Being a Prairie Star means being able to represent UIS with pride," she said. "I think that means working hard and supporting the people around you. And for me, being able to leave something behind for those who come after me, especially on the volleyball court." 

The GLVC regular season championship is among her favorite memories, but it is far from the only one that stands out— they're the everyday moments with teammates. "One of the best things about UIS was just being with my teammates in the locker room, being goofy, being silly, spending time together," Hasler said. "You get so close to people. You get to spend all your time with your best friends. There's no other time in your life when you get to see your best friends every single day, live with them, struggle with them, and overcome and accomplish such amazing things with them."

Now, as a Hall of Famer, she sees her legacy as part of something larger. "I know it's very special to a lot of people. Being a college athlete is rare, even though it feels like it's not when you're constantly surrounded by college athletes," she said. "And to know that your hard work just paid off the entire time that you were there — it's just so awesome."

After spending years looking back on what she and her teammates built, Hasler will return to Springfield this weekend to celebrate that legacy alongside the people who helped shape it.