QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University women's volleyball team will see a familiar opponent twice this week, facing Illinois Springfield on Tuesday, October 20, in Springfield before welcoming the Prairie Stars to Pepsi Arena four days later for a Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup.

Tuesday's contest is scheduled for 6 PM at The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC). Although both programs are members of the GLVC, the match will be played as a non-conference contest and will not count toward the league standings.

The teams will meet again Saturday, October 24, at 3 PM inside Pepsi Arena, with the second meeting counting toward each team's GLVC record.

Quincy enters the week at 15-8 overall and 3-5 in conference play, while Illinois Springfield sits at 7-14 overall and 1-7 in the GLVC.

Both teams arrive with momentum after going a perfect 3-0 at the Midwest Region Crossover over the weekend.

Hawks Sweep Through Midwest Region Crossover

Quincy put together its best weekend of the season in Hammond, Indiana, picking up three victories against opponents from the G-MAC and GLIAC.

The Hawks defeated Northwood, Lake Erie and Davenport to finish the Midwest Region Crossover with an unbeaten 3-0 record and extend their winning streak to three matches.

The weekend moved Quincy to 15-8 overall heading into the final portion of the regular season.

Illinois Springfield enjoyed an equally successful trip to Hammond.

The Prairie Stars defeated Thomas More, Lake Superior State and Purdue Northwest to complete their own 3-0 Crossover weekend.

The performance was particularly notable for a UIS offense that produced well above its season averages. The Prairie Stars hit .250 across the three victories while averaging 12.62 kills per set.

That surge gives Tuesday's matchup a different feel than the season records might suggest, with both teams entering the week playing some of their best volleyball of the year.

Same Opponent, Different Stakes

Playing the same opponent twice in five days creates a unique situation for both programs. Tuesday provides Quincy and UIS with a full look at one another without impacting the GLVC standings.

Four days later, the stakes change considerably when the Prairie Stars come to Pepsi Arena.

That creates an opportunity for both coaching staffs to make adjustments based on Tuesday's matchup before the conference meeting Saturday.

For Quincy, Saturday's contest will be especially important as the Hawks continue their push toward a seventh consecutive GLVC Tournament appearance.

Hawks Look to Apply Pressure

Quincy's ability to create pressure from the service line and limit opposing efficiency remains one of its biggest strengths.

The Hawks rank second in the GLVC with 1.91 service aces per set and lead the conference with 164 total aces. Quincy is also third in the league in opponent hitting percentage, holding teams to a .163 mark.

That could create a favorable matchup against a UIS team that has struggled offensively over the course of the season.

The Prairie Stars rank last in the GLVC with 9.55 assists and 10.47 kills per set. They are also 13th in the conference with a .156 hitting percentage. UIS has allowed opponents to hit .247, also ranking 13th in the league.

Those numbers have been closely connected to Quincy's success this season. The Hawks are 8-1 when hitting at least .247 and 11-0 when holding opponents below a .156 hitting percentage.

The challenge will be slowing a UIS attack that looked significantly different during its three matches at the Crossover.

Hawks to Watch

Aysem Kocaalp continues to lead the Quincy attack with 266 kills, averaging 3.28 per set. Kocaalp has also been one of the GLVC's top servers, recording 42 aces while averaging 0.52 per set.

Setter Macey Rocco has directed the offense with 802 assists, averaging 9.33 per set. Defensively, Amber Glen leads the Hawks with 318 digs and averages 3.70 per set.

Quincy has also received strong production from its middles. Erin Matzke is hitting .316 while leading the team with 70 total blocks, while Monika Bíliková is hitting .310 with 67 blocks.

That middle presence could become another advantage against a UIS team that ranks 13th in the GLVC with 1.51 blocks per set.

Players to Watch for UIS

Junior outside hitter Kendall Johnson serves as the primary offensive option for Illinois Springfield.

The Platte City, Missouri, native leads the Prairie Stars with 200 kills, averaging 2.74 per set. Johnson also leads UIS with 27 service aces.

She enters Tuesday with double-digit kills in four consecutive matches and has also proven difficult to target in serve receive, committing only five reception errors across 331 attempts.
 
Freshman middle blocker Khadijah Blue has emerged as another important contributor. Blue has recorded 115 kills and 53 total blocks this season.

She has reached double-digit kills in each of her last three matches while hitting .425 during that stretch and totaling 14 blocks.

Junior libero Emma Frazier anchors the back row. Frazier leads UIS with 279 digs, averaging 3.72 per set, and has reached double figures in digs in 13 consecutive matches. She has recorded at least 20 digs three times this season.

The Prairie Stars are led by second-year head coach Laura Ulrich.

Series History

Quincy has controlled the recent series against Illinois Springfield. Dating back to 2007, the programs have met 22 times, with the Hawks holding a 14-8 advantage.

Quincy has won each of the last four meetings while dropping only one set during that stretch. The Hawks earned a 3-1 victory at TRAC last season.

Over the series stretch, Quincy is 6-5 in Springfield and 8-3 against UIS inside Pepsi Arena.

Illinois Springfield's most recent victory over Quincy came in 2021, when the Prairie Stars earned a four-set win at TRAC.

GLVC Tournament Chase

While Tuesday's result will not affect the conference standings, Saturday's meeting carries significant postseason implications for Quincy.

The Hawks currently sit ninth in the GLVC at 3-5, just outside the eight-team conference tournament field. Southwest Baptist currently occupies eighth at 3-4, while Truman sits seventh at 4-4.

Quincy has five conference matches remaining and remains firmly within reach of a tournament position. The Hawks have qualified for the GLVC Tournament in each of the last six seasons.

Illinois Springfield sits 13th in the standings at 1-7.

With the regular season entering its final weeks, every conference result becomes increasingly important as Quincy looks to move back inside the top eight.

Matchup Outlook

Tuesday and Saturday provide Quincy with an unusual challenge: preparing for the same opponent twice in a matter of days while knowing only the second result will impact the conference standings.

On paper, the Hawks hold statistical advantages in several areas, particularly serving, opponent hitting percentage and offensive efficiency.

However, UIS enters the week playing much better than its season-long numbers indicate.

The Prairie Stars' offensive improvement during their perfect Crossover weekend, combined with strong recent performances from Johnson and Blue, gives Quincy plenty to prepare for.

For the Hawks, continuing to create pressure from the service line, staying organized in serve receive and taking advantage of opportunities against a UIS defense allowing opponents to hit .247 could be key in both matches.

Tuesday gives Quincy the first opportunity to solve the Prairie Stars before the teams meet again Saturday with valuable GLVC positioning on the line.

The Hawks and Prairie Stars first meet at 6 PM Tuesday at TRAC in Springfield before returning to Pepsi Arena for the conference matchup at 3 PM Saturday.