Prairie Stars to host sports smorgasbord Friday

The south side of the University of Illinois Springfield campus will be abuzz with activity Friday.

The UIS Prairie Stars’ volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer teams all play their first-ever Great Lakes Valley Conference home matches that evening, making Kiwanis Stadium and The Recreation and Athletic Center the places to be.

“It will be an exciting atmosphere,” UIS volleyball coach Angie Riggle said. “That’s what college athletics is all about.”

The women’s soccer team kicks off the action with a 5 p.m. game against Maryville. The men’s soccer squad plays Maryville at 7:30. The volleyball team hosts the Missouri-St. Louis at 7 p.m.

Both soccer teams have three league matches under their belts. It is the first conference match for the volleyball team.

“It’s an exciting time to get in a league at this level,” UIS women’s soccer coach Pete Kowall said. “I can’t speak for volleyball, but after playing three matches we’re in a very strong league.”

Online broadcasts offered

Fans don’t have to be at the TRAC to see the UIS volleyball match against UMSL.

B2 Networks is airing all of the Prairie Stars’ home conference volleyball matches online. The network, which has partnered with the GLVC, will also broadcast UIS men’s and women’s basketball games.

B2 will broadcast more than 400 GLVC sporting events yearly. GLVC schools can add events at their discretion.

It costs $7 to watch an individual athletic contest. A basketball season pass will be offered at a special price in the future.

To watch or obtain a list of scheduled events click on the B2 networks link at www.GoPrairieStars.com.

In addition to Friday’s volleyball match, B2 will air contests against Missouri Science and Technology on Saturday, Lewis on Sept. 25, Wisconsin-Parkside on Sept. 26, Maryville on Oct. 10, Southern Indiana on Nov. 6 and Kentucky Wesleyan on Nov. 7.

B2 lists a pair of UIS men’s and women’s basketball dates on its Web site. It will air both men’s and women’s games against UMSL on Jan. 23 and against Lewis on Feb. 18.

Welcome to the GLVC

UIS has three straight women’s soccer conference road losses to Rockhurst, Drury and Missouri S&T, and there are reasons for that.

To start out, the 2-3 Stars have battled injuries and illness in the first few weeks of the season.

“We spread the flu around for about a week and a half,” Kowall said.

They’re still dealing with knee injuries to freshman forward Kaitlyn Ebarb and sophomore defender Jessica Jaime. Ebarb and Jaime each injured their medial collateral ligament. Ebarb is out four to six weeks. There’s a chance she could return late in the regular season. Jaime is out at least through the weekend and will undergo a re-evaluation Monday.

Getting in on the action

Riggle is spreading the playing time around on the volleyball court.

“We do not have a set lineup at this point,” she said. “That’s something that works to our advantage. I don’t know what lineup I’m going to go with. They have to show me they’re working hard every practice and every game.”

The 6-5 Stars’ performance has been up and down. UIS went 1-3 over the weekend at the Rockhurst Tournament. The bright spot was senior outside hitter Sarah Cooper, who was voted to the all-tournament team.

Party time

UIS will celebrate its inaugural NCAA Division II season during a reception Oct. 8 from 5-7 p.m. at the Illinois Association of REALTORS, 522 S. Fifth Street located across from the Governor’s Executive Mansion.

Tickets cost $15 per person and $25 per couple with proceeds going toward UIS athletic scholarships. Pizza and beverages will be served.

Coaches from each UIS team will attend and answer questions.

Marcia Martinez can be reached at 788-1547.