VUVB drops a pair of tough road matches over the weekend

Park Hills, MO and Hillsboro, MO – The Vincennes University volleyball team hit the road this past weekend to take on Mineral Area College and Jefferson College in two separate matches, at two different schools in one day.

VU first took on Mineral Area in a match that saw the Blazers fall behind early. The Cardinals took the first two sets by the score of 25-12 and 25-16. Vincennes would try to fight back in the third set and were nearly able to avoid the sweep, before MAC took the set and the match 26-24.

VU was led by sophomore Breanna Metzger, who finished the first match of the day with team-highs in kills (9) and aces (2), to go along with one solo block.

Freshman Jamie Russell was able to rack up six kills and one block assists. Sophomore Savannah Grimes again helped set up the VU offense with 25 set assists on the match, as well as three block assists.

The Trailblazers then hit the road again to face Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo. Saturday evening.

VU's second match of the day went just about how the first match did, with JeffCo winning the first two sets 25-16 and 25-19 before the Blazers tried to spark a comeback that fell just short, losing the third set and the match 25-23.

Jamie Russell led the Trailblazers offense with 10 kills, two block assists and an ace. Breanna Metzger also had seven kills and two block assists.

Freshman Amee Beedle led Vincennes with two aces to go along with her four digs and two kills.

Savannah Grimes finished the match with 21 set assists, five digs, two block assists and one kill.

"We experienced a lot of serve receive issues in both matches which made it difficult to run our offense," VU head coach Gary Sien said. "Not running an efficient offense will give the opposition many transition opportunities which would put us in a difficult defensive position. These two matches gave us an idea of the level we have to play at as both are in our District."

VU will hit the road again this week as they take on Region 24-opponent Shawnee Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m. eastern. Followed by a tri-match Friday, Feb. 5 at Lake Land College. The Blazers will take on Lake Land at 3 p.m. and John Wood College at 5 p.m. eastern.

Vincennes Stats vs Mineral Area

MAC  25  25  26

VU (2-2)  12  16  24

Savannah Grimes – 1.5 points, 3 block assists, 3 digs, 25 set assists

Amee Beedle – 3 points, 3 kills, 3 digs

Emile Cornelson – 4 points, 4 kills

Anna Johnsey – 3.5 points, 1 kill, 5 block assists, 2 digs

Breanna Metzger – 12 points, 2 aces, 9 kills, 1 solo block

Allyson Kuhl – 1 point, 2 block assists, 1 dig

Jamie Russell – 6.5 points, 6 kills, 1 block assist, 2 digs

Grace Earp – 3 digs, 1 set assist

Elizabeth Combs – 1 point, 1 kill, 1 dig

Olga Vasovic – 1 dig

Vincennes Stats vs Jefferson College

JeffCo  25  25  25

VU (2-3)  16  19  23

Savannah Grimes – 2 points, 1 kill, 2 block assists, 5 digs, 21 set assists

Amee Beedle – 4 points, 2 aces, 2 kills, 4 digs

Emile Cornelson – 2 points, 2 kills

Anna Johnsey – 3.5 points, 1 kill, 2 block assists

Breanna Metzger – 8 points, 7 kills, 2 block assists, 3 digs

Allyson Kuhl – 4 digs

Jamie Russell – 11 points, 1 ace, 10 kills, 2 block assists, 4 digs

Grace Earp – 1 point, 10 digs, 1 set assist

Elizabeth Combs – 3 points, 3 kills, 1 dig

Olga Vasovic – 1 points 1 ace