On Friday, October 10, 2025, the University of Illinois Springfield volleyball team faced off against the William Jewell College Cardinals at the UIS TRAC. Family, friends, and fans gathered to cheer on the Prairie Stars as they secured an impressive 3–0 victory over the Cardinals.

UIS Coach Laura Ulrich said the win was especially rewarding given the team’s recent challenges.

“I think the team has been working really hard, and we have been nursing a couple of injuries across the board,” Ulrich said.

Despite those setbacks, the Prairie Stars demonstrated strong depth and adaptability on the court.

Team member Makenna Cox described how the squad adjusted its strategy to accommodate for player injuries.

“We have some girls injured, so we’ve been playing around with different rotations,” Cox said. “It’s awesome seeing everyone come in, take control, and play together the way we know we can.”

Freshman Madeline Mendelblatt added that the team has been intentionally flexible during practices.

“Every day this week, people have been playing new positions and getting used to having different lineups,” Mendelblatt said. “At the end of the day, anybody can play anywhere, and we all work together to stay competitive like we were tonight.”

Looking ahead, Coach Ulrich emphasized the importance of sharpening defensive play.

“Our goal is to step up by playing really clean and with stronger defense,” she said. “We need to be a little more aggressive at the net to slow down attackers. That will be really important for us.”

Mendelblatt echoed her coach’s sentiment, stressing teamwork and communication.

“I hope for even better communication and just working together to be the best we can be on the court,” she said.

The Prairie Stars will take the court again on November 1, when they host the Quincy Hawks at the UIS TRAC.