VUVB earns fifth straight win in road sweep over Southeastern Illinois

HARRISBURG, Ill. – The Vincennes University Volleyball team closed out a stretch of playing three road games in five days by traveling to take on Southeastern Illinois College Tuesday night and the Blazers came away with the strong sweep, 25-7, 25-20, 25-17.

Vincennes looked to set the tone early in set one, building a big lead and not allowing the Falcons to score 10 points on their home floor, winning 25-7 to take the opening set.

VU seemed to relax in set two and Southeastern Illinois rallied, battling back in the second set before Vincennes came away with the 25-20 win, giving the Blazers the 2-0 match lead.

Southeastern Illinois looked to avoid getting swept on their home floor in the third set but were ultimately unable to hold off the Trailblazer offense at VU earned their fifth win in a row, taking set three 25-17.

"We had some very good moments on top of some off moments," VUVB head coach Gary Sien said. "We started well but backed off in the second set. Southeastern played us pretty tough at times at the net."

"This was our 10th match in the last 11 that we have been on the road," Sien added. "We have done well overall and this should prepare us greatly as the season winds down with the Region and District tournaments ahead of us."

The Trailblazers were led offensively by freshman Addison Ainscough (Cannelburg, Ind.) who led VU with 10 kills on the night.

Ainscough also added eight digs and a pair of aces and a pair of blocks.

Sophomores Jamie Russell (East St. Louis, Ill.) and Breanna Metzger (Dale, Ind.) finished with impressive stat lines at the net, with the duo each finishing with four blocks, with Russell adding seven kills and Metzger finishing with six.

Freshmen Jagoda Szybinska (Poznan, Poland) and Josephine Mulligan (Saint John, Ind.) each finished with five kills, with Mulligan also running the offense from the setter position, finishing with a team-high 19 set assists on the night.

Fellow setter Hannah Graber (Montgomery, Ind.) had a great night offensively, not only helping with 15 set assists, but earning four kills and four aces of her own.

Sophomore Emilie Cornelson (Saskatoon, Canada) also would finish the night with four kills, while also adding a pair of blocks.

Freshman Lara Gomes de Castro (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and sophomore Grace Earp (Mattoon, Ill.) ran the back row for the Blazers with Gomes de Castro leading VU with 10 digs and Earp finishing with nine.

Freshman Kaley Roush (Shoals, Ind.) also saw playing time against Southeastern Illinois, ending her night with five digs and a kill for the Blazers.

"I thought our setters Hannah and Joie did a nice job not only in running the offense, but on offense too," Sien said. "Lara and Kaley came in and did a very good job in the back row as well."

The Trailblazers now have a couple of days off now to prepare for a tough weekend ahead as Vincennes will host the "Showdown on the Wabash" Friday, Oct. 8 and Saturday, Oct. 9 at the P.E. Complex.

VUVB will begin the tournament by facing Region 24 opponent Wabash Valley Friday, Oct. 9 at 3 p.m. eastern, before closing out the day by taking on Gadsden State Community College at 7 p.m. eastern.

The tournament will conclude on Saturday, Oct. 9 when Vincennes will host Region 24 opponent John A. Logan College at 12 p.m. eastern.

Southeastern Illinois – 7  20  17  x  x

VUVB (15-3, 6-0) – 25  25  25  x  x

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Kaley Roush – 1 point, 1 kill, 5 digs

Josephine Mulligan – 7.5 points, 5 kills, 2 solo blocks, 1 block assist, 8 digs, 19 set assists

Addison Ainscough – 13 points, 2 aces, 10 kills, 2 block assists, 8 digs

Lara Gomes de Castro – 10 digs, 1 set assist

Emilie Cornelson – 5.5 points, 4 kills, 1 solo block, 1 block assist, 1 dig

Jagoda Szybinska – 5 points, 5 kills, 6 digs, 1 set assist

Breanna Metzger – 8 points, 6 kills, 4 block assists, 5 digs

Jamie Russell – 9 points, 7 kills, 4 block assists, 3 digs, 1 set assist

Grace Earp – 9 digs, 1 set assist

Hannah Graber – 8 points, 4 aces, 4 kills, 3 digs, 15 set assists