The UIS volleyball team has announced its schedule for the 2025 season. The Prairie Stars, led by fifth-year head coach Kamille Jones, will host 14 matches at TRAC this season, including seven in conference play, as they pursue success in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The season begins with a scrimmage at Bradley on Saturday, August 23. UIS will then return home to host its first of two tournaments at TRAC.

The Prairie Stars open the regular season on Friday, Sept. 5, with matches against Central Missouri and Lake Superior State. On Saturday, Sept. 6, they are set to face Kentucky Wesleyan and Roosevelt to close out the opening weekend. The tournament provides an early-season opportunity to compete against strong NCAA Division II opponents from the Midwest and Central regions. 

The following weekend, UIS will travel to Canton, Ohio, for the Hall of Fame City Challenge hosted by Malone. UIS opens the event against the host team on Friday afternoon, Sept. 12, followed by an evening match against Bloomsburg. On Saturday, Sept. 13, the Prairie Stars will face Slippery Rock and Bluefield State.

UIS returns to TRAC from Sept. 18-20 for its second home tournament. The Prairie Stars will play Northwest Missouri State on Thursday, Sept. 18, and Nebraska-Kearney on Friday, Sept. 19. The weekend wraps up with the Prairie Stars' Homecoming match against Maryville on Saturday, Sept. 20.

UIS remains at home the following weekend to open conference play. UIS will host Lewis on Friday, Sept. 26, and Indianapolis on Saturday, Sept. 27.

The team will then go on the road for its first conference away matches of the season, visiting Missouri-St. Louis on Friday, Oct. 3, and McKendree on Saturday, Oct. 4.

UIS will then return to TRAC for matches against William Jewell on Friday, Oct. 10, and Rockhurst on Saturday, Oct. 11. Following the Rockhurst match, teams from the region will be seeded into the annual Midwest Regional Crossover, which takes place October 17-18 in Hammond, Ind. The crossover features matchups between teams from the GLVC, GLIAC and GMAC.

GLVC play resumes on the road with matches at Southwest Baptist on Friday, Oct. 24, and Drury on Saturday, Oct. 25.

The Prairie Stars then close out their home schedule with three matches in November. UIS hosts Quincy on Saturday, Nov. 1, before welcoming Upper Iowa and Truman State on Friday, Nov. 7, and Saturday, Nov. 8, respectively.

The regular season concludes with road contests at Maryville on Friday, Nov. 14, and Missouri S&T on Saturday, Nov. 15.

The GLVC Tournament is scheduled for November 20-22. NCAA regional competition will begin Thursday, Dec. 4 for qualifying teams.

A Season Ago
In fall 2024, the Prairie Stars finished 18-10 overall with an 8-5 record in GLVC play. The season included a 4-0 sweep at the Hilltopper Classic in Austin, Tex., a pair of wins at the Midwest Regional Crossover, and a berth to the GLVC Tournament, where they fell to fourth-seeded Rockhurst.

Three players earned all-conference honors last season: outside hitters Makenna Cox and Eirini Glynou, and setter Erica Sledge. Cox returns as a redshirt sophomore, while Sledge enters her senior year.

Stay Tuned
Details on promotions, ticket sales, and the finalized roster for the upcoming season will be released later this summer.