VINCENNES, Ind. – The three-time defending Region 24 Champion Vincennes University volleyball team added some more size and front row presence with the signing of six-foot tall middle blocker Martyna Sadowska from Poland.
Sadowska comes to VU from the same organization as Blazer alums Jagoda Szybinska and Gosia Banasiak.
“We need to recruit at least one middle blocker,” VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. “The thing about Martyna is that she is very versatile. I always say that most of the international players are very well rounded and they have those first contact skills that most players from the United States don’t have as consistently.”
FAIRFIELD, Ill. – The three-time defending Region 24 Champion Vincennes University volleyball announced another big addition to their 2024 recruiting class Monday afternoon with the addition of setter Rylee Edwards from Fairfield, Ill.
Edwards joins the Trailblazers as the second VU Val/Sal Scholarship recipient for the 2024 VU Volleyball class and third recipient overall for the team, joining incoming Ashley Earp (Mattoon, Ill.) and returning Grace Flexter (Oblong, Ill.).
“The neat thing is that Rylee is our second incoming Val/Sal student and will be our third one on the team next year including Grace,” VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. “We are usually pretty smart, so it’s going to be pretty nice to have that many kids that are at the top of their graduating classes here.”
VINCENNES, Ind. – The three-time defending Region 24 Champion Vincennes University volleyball team opened their 2024 recruiting class with a new addition with a pretty familiar name.
The Trailblazers begin their 2024 recruiting class with five-foot-six defensive specialist / libero Ashley Earp from Mattoon, Ill.
Earp is the stepsister of 2021 NJCAA Division I Region 24 Player of the Year Grace (Earp) Bartimus.
NORMAL, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball season came to an abrupt end Friday evening as the Trailblazers fell in their two games to start the 2024 NJCAA Division II Region 24 Pod A Tournament hosted by Heartland Community College in Normal, Ill.
The Blazers fell to host and defending National Champion Heartland C.C. 10-9 on a walk-off sac fly, before falling to Spoon River 11-8 in the very next game.
VU got off to a great start to the day in game one against Heartland Community College, opening up the scoring in the fourth with four big runs.
VINCENNES, Ind. - Vincennes University has taken the first step in its effort to fill the roles of its legendary Hall of Fame Coach and Director of Athletics Harry Meeks, who announced his retirement on April 24. VU Assistant Coach Ingrida Hartsfield has been named VU Women’s Basketball Interim Head Coach. Meeks announced her appointment on Wednesday, May 8.
Hartsfield steps into the role of interim coach for one season as Meeks, her mentor, retires with 33 years of service to VU as Director of Athletics and Women’s Basketball Coach.
According to Meeks, “President Johnson and I discussed what is in the best interest of our program and our student-athletes, and we concluded that Ingrida Hartsfield is the best person to fill the role of interim head coach. We believe appointing her will ensure continuity and maintain leadership within the program.”
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The 2024 Vincennes University Spring regular season came to a close Sunday evening as the Blazers headed up to Champaign for the final two games of their four-game split Mid-West Athletic Conference series with Parkland College.
The Trailblazers held early leads in both games Sunday but came out on the wrong end of a 9-3 final score in game one and a 10-6 final score in 11 innings in game two.
The day got off to a pretty good start for the Trailblazers, with sophomore Carter Whitehead (Huntingburg, Ind.) leading off the game with a single and later scoring the first run of game one on an RBI single by sophomore Trevor Newman (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Vincennes University Track and Field teams took their final tune up before the 2024 NJCAA Division I National Championships Friday evening, heading up to Bloomington to take part in the Billy Hayes Invitational hosted by Indiana University.
The Blazers again found themselves in a stacked field of NCAA Division I athletes and more than held their own.
The VU men’s team was led by the Trailblazer relay teams, winning the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:11.36 and taking second place in the 4x100 relay with a time of 40.67 seconds.
VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team closed out the home portion of their regular season at Jerry Blemker Field Saturday afternoon, dropping the first two games of their Mid-West Athletic Conference series to Parkland College 6-0 and 4-0.
Parkland broke open the scoring on the day in game one with a run in the second inning.
Vincennes managed to get a lead-off single by sophomore Carter Whitehead (Huntingburg, Ind.) in the first and a one-out single by sophomore Trevor Newman (Fort Wayne, Ind.) in the second but were unable to move those runners into scoring position.
VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University All-American and 2024 NJCAA Central District Tournament MVP Michael Osei-Bonsu (Bolingbrook, Ill.) announced on social media earlier this week that he has committed to playing next season at NCAA Division I Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo.
“I committed to Missouri State University because I developed a bond with the head coach, assistant coach and the rest of the coaching staff,” Osei-Bonsu said. “I loved the campus and I felt like that’s where my heart was telling me to go.”
Osei-Bonsu guided the Trailblazers to a combined 60-10 record over the last two seasons, including two trips to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament and a berth in the Elite Eight as a freshman.
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Vincennes University Golf team closed out the 2024 Region 24 tournament Tuesday at Weibring Golf Course in Bloomington, Ill.
The two-day, 54-hole tournament got off to a rocky start, with the opening round Monday being delayed by rain and moving the second round of the tournament to be played on Tuesday.
VU freshman Alex Nealis (Olney, Ill.) got off to a great start to the tournament Monday in the opening round, shooting a first round two-over 73 to leave him in a tie for ninth place after the first day.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The number of National qualifiers continues to rise for the Vincennes University Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams as the Blazers had another good weekend at two separate meets.
The distance runners for the VU Trailblazers headed up north earlier this week to take part in the GVSU Extra Weekend meet at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. Thursday evening.
The men’s distance crew was led by sophomore Isaac Stanford (Flora, Ill.) who headed a group of VU runners in the 800 meters with a time of 1:53.22, good for fourth overall.
VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team closed out their Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) weekend series with John Wood Community College Sunday afternoon at Jerry Blemker Field and while playing behind for most of the day, were able to battle back late in both games.
Unfortunately for the host Trailblazers, the late comebacks were not enough as John Wood took game one of the day 13-12 before closing out the series in game two 8-7.
Vincennes had an uphill battle from the beginning Sunday afternoon, with John Wood opening game one of the day with a run in the first, four runs in the second and a run in the third to take an early 6-0 lead.
VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team returned home to begin their Mid-West Athletic Conference weekend series with John Wood Community College Saturday afternoon.
The Trailblazers came up on the wrong side of an 8-0 score in game one before dropping game two of the day 14-4 to John Wood.
Vincennes had to play from behind early in game one, with John Wood breaking onto the scoreboard with a run in the second and two runs in the third to take an early 3-0 lead.
VINCENNES, Ind. – 2024 Region 24 Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Second Team NJCAA All-American Destinee Hooks (Indianapolis, Ind.) announced last week that she plans to continue her basketball career next season at NCAA Division I University of New Mexico.
“I chose UNM because I was ready for a different environment,” Hooks said. “The facilities are extremely nice and new and the coaching staff was a very good fit for me personality wise and seemed like the perfect home away from home.”
“Being named an NJCAA All-American is a very astonishing honor and one that I will never take for granted,” Hooks added. “Personally, I never saw that far ahead into the future, but it means everything to me to be noticed as one of the greats of this program.”
ROBINSON, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team got off to an excellent start Thursday evening at Lincoln Trail College, holding a 5-1 lead after four innings.
But the Trailblazers were unable to keep the Statesmen down as Lincoln Trail scored two in the seventh and two in the eighth to complete a late comeback and take the game 6-5 over Vincennes.
VU wasted little time getting started Thursday at Lincoln Trail, with the second batter of the game, sophomore Jack Robinson (Mooresville, Ind.) hitting a single, followed by a big two-run home run by sophomore Blake Heyerly (Monroe, Ind.), his third home run of the season and third career home run.
VINCENNES, Ind. - After 33 years of outstanding service to Vincennes University, Athletic Director and Hall of Fame Women’s Basketball Coach Harry Meeks will retire in June 2024, leaving a legacy of excellence and unparalleled impact on VU Athletics and beyond.
According to VU President Dr. Chuck Johnson, Meeks’ leadership has elevated VU Athletics and profoundly influenced the lives of many.
Johnson said, “In Harry Meeks, Vincennes University has not just had a coach or an athletic director, but a true leader whose fervent dedication has been the bedrock of the VU Athletics Department. His steady hands have guided our athletics programs and shaped the lives of countless VU student-athletes, VU coaches, VU alumni, and the broader University Community. It has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside Coach Meeks, witnessing firsthand the enormous impact he has made locally as well throughout the State of Indiana and nationally.”
MONTGOMERY, Ind. – Vincennes University sophomore Preston Broce (Indianapolis, Ind.) used the home course to his advantage over the weekend as he posted the lowest score at the two-day 2024 VU Spring Invitational at Country Oaks Golf Course in Montgomery.
Broce was off to another great start in the opening round Saturday, posting a three-over 75, which put him one shot back of the leader.
Broce then returned Sunday morning to shoot and even par 72 in the final round, giving him a tournament total of 147 and claiming his first collegiate tournament victory at Vincennes University.
MARION, Ind. – The Vincennes University Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams put together another great weekend at the 2024 Indiana Little State Championships hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University.
The busy weekend actually got started on Thursday when VU sophomore and 2024 Indoor Heptathlon National Champion Olegs Kozjakovs made the short trip up to Terre Haute to take part in a two-day Decathlon at the 2024 Gibson Invitational.
Kozjakovs had a great showing in the events, competing against NCAA Division I athletes, taking the top spot in the shot put, discus and pole vault events to claim the top spot in the Decathlon with a total of 6,778 points.
CANTON, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team closed out their weekend Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) series at Spoon River College Sunday afternoon.
The VU offense produced plenty of runs, but unfortunately came out on the wrong end of an 11-9 final in game one and an 18-8 final in game two.
The day got off to a rough start for the Blue and Gold as Spoon River opened the scoring in the first inning with four runs.
CANTON, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team opened their weekend Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) series at Spoon River College Saturday afternoon with an excellent pitching performance by freshman Carson Allen (Louisville, Ky.).
Allen would throw a nine-inning complete game in game one of the doubleheader to guide the Trailblazers to a 9-3 win.
This is the first nine-inning complete game for the Trailblazers since May 2, 2021, when Sam Steimel threw a nine-inning shutout at Parkland College.
FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team snapped their losing streak Wednesday afternoon on the road in a midweek showdown with Franklin College JV.
VU took advantage of two seven run innings to come away on top by the final score 14-5.
Vincennes broke open the scoring in a big way in the second inning at Franklin JV with freshman Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) leading off the inning with a single and coming around to score from first on an RBI double by sophomore Bryan Kohlmeyer (Paris, Ill.).
VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team battled Sunday afternoon at Jerry Blemker Field in the final two games of their four-game weekend Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) series with No. 15-ranked Lincoln Land Community College.
The Trailblazers closed out the weekend dropping the Sunday doubleheader 10-5 in game one and 17-6 in game two.
Vincennes got off to an excellent start Sunday afternoon with sophomore Blake Heyerly (Monroe, Ind.) coming through in the bottom of the first with a double to start a two-out rally.
VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team fell victim to a pair of big innings Saturday evening in the first two of their four-game weekend Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) series with No. 15-ranked Lincoln Land.
The Blazers dropped the first two games of the series 10-4 and 10-0 at Jerry Blemker Field.
VU got off to an excellent start to the day, with freshman Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) leading off the first inning with a single, then moving around the bases on a bunt single and a throwing error and later scoring on a bases loaded walk by freshman Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) to give the Blazers and early 1-0 lead.
NORMAL, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team closed out their Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) series Tuesday afternoon against the defending National Champion Heartland Community College in Normal, Ill.
The Blazers unfortunately came up short in the final two games of this four-game series, falling 7-0 and 12-4 in Tuesday’s doubleheader.
Vincennes fell behind early in game one of the day to the highly rated Hawks, surrendering a run in each of the first three innings to trail 3-0.
NORMAL, Ill. – The Vincennes University tough baseball schedule continued Monday afternoon with the Trailblazers jumping back into their Mid-West Athletic Conference (MWAC) schedule on the road at defending National Champions and No. 10-ranked Heartland Community College.
The Blazers battled with the Hawks throughout but ultimately came out on the wrong end of an 8-4 and 14-4 final scores.
Vincennes got off to a slow start against the Hawks, with Heartland getting on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the first.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Vincennes University golf team got their top two scorers back this weekend for the two-day Battle of the Woods tournament at Hulman Links in Terre Haute.
While they were still battling lingering injuries, the Trailblazers showed tremendous improvement on another tough course in windy conditions to come away with a third-place finish as a team.
The two-day, 36-hole tournament began Saturday morning with the first round and the Blazers looked to be in great shape after the first 18 holes of the tournament.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Vincennes University men’s and women’s Track and Field teams were back in action Friday at the 2024 Jim Vargo Invitational hosted by Bellarmine University in Louisville.
The VU throwers stole the show for the Blue and Gold at Friday’s meet, led by sophomore Madison Davis who had the best finish of the meet by taking second place in the shot put with a throw of 12.17 meters.
Davis also completed the daily double by taking 15th overall in the discus with a best throw of 31.13 meters.
MT. CARMEL, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team hit the field for the first time in a full week Friday afternoon, heading down to nearby Wabash Valley College for a single nine-inning game.
The Blazers found themselves in another close ballgame with a tough NJCAA Division I program and unfortunately came out on the wrong end of a 2-0 final score.
The VU offense was held in check by some really good pitching by the Warriors, with VU getting their first base runner in the third on a walk by sophomore Carter Whitehead (Huntingburg, Ind.).
CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Vincennes University Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams headed outside for the first time this season and split the squad between two different meets.
Members of the VU Track team headed to St. Louis, Mo. to take part in the WashU Distance Carnival hosted by Washington University of St. Louis Friday, while the rest of the VU Track teams headed to Charleston, Ill. for the two-day EIU Big Blue Invitational hosted by Eastern Illinois University Friday and Saturday.
The WashU Distance Carnival crew was headed by sophomore Isaac Stanford (Flora, Ill.) who placed eighth in the 1500 meters with a time of 3:53.43.
VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University baseball team put on a good show Friday afternoon at Jerry Blemker Field, facing NJCAA Division I No. 17-ranked John A. Logan College and falling by the final score of 12-6.
VU battled throughout and held a 4-1 lead over the Volunteers heading into the sixth inning, but a pair of big innings for the Vols ultimately flipped the game.
The Trailblazers got off to a great start Friday afternoon, scoring two runs in the first after sophomore Kade Hinton (Fort Wayne, Ind.) reached on a walk and came around to score on an RBI double by redshirt freshman Holden Clifton (Louisville, Ill.).
VUVB signs Polish middle blocker Martyna Sadowska
May 14, 2024VINCENNES, Ind. – The three-time defending Region 24 Champion Vincennes University volleyball team added some more size and front row presence with the signing of six-foot tall middle blocker Martyna Sadowska from Poland. Sadowska comes to VU from the same organization as Blazer alums Jagoda Szybinska and Gosia Banasiak. “We need to recruit at least one middle blocker,” VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. “The thing about Martyna is that she is very versatile. I always say that most of the international players are very well rounded and they have those first contact skills that most players from the United States don’t have as consistently.”
