Trailblazers complete the weekend sweep with two more wins at Owens C.C. Tournament

PERRYSBURG, Ohio – The Vincennes University volleyball team continued their hot start to the 2023 season Saturday morning by finishing out the final day of the Owens C.C. Tournament with two more three-set sweeps, giving them four wins and four sweeps in two days. The first time VU has gone 4-0 at the Owens C.C. tournament since 2017.

The Blazers began the morning with another tough showdown against a nationally ranked opponent, this time facing off against Division II No. 14 St Johns River State College from Lakeside, Fla.

Vincennes defeated the Vikings 25-20, 25-20, 25-11.

"St Johns River State is a big time hitting team in the middle," VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. "We knew we had to do all we can to make it difficult for them to run that option. We went with our tough service game and mixed our targets to keep them off balance. We wanted to see if their other hitters could make up the difference."

"We also ran the offense well, scoring on several runs in each set," Sien added. "I thought Maecy and Libby not only ran the offense efficiently but contributed in many runs with their serves. I am proud of the team. I think we were very tired before the match, having the game roll around at 9 a.m. and with the long travel and everything. I don't think people outside of volleyball understand how difficult it is to be your competitive best at that early hour. Their response was exceptional."

VU was led offensively by sophomore Paige Parlanti (Las Vegas, Nev.) who led the Blazers with 17 kills, eight digs, three aces and three blocks.

Freshman Laura Tavares (Merida, Venezuela) continues to hit the ball really well, finishing with nine kills and two blocks.

Sophomore Audrey Buis (Franklin, Ind.) and freshman Isadora Dias (Rio Grande de Norte, Brazil) round out the VU hitting with Buis finishing with seven kills, five digs and one block, while Dias added four kills, two digs and one set assist.

Blockers freshman Elisa Dalla Pozza (Vincenza, Italy) and sophomore Kennedy Sowell (Effingham, Ill.) had another big game at the net, with Dalla Pozza finishing with three blocks, four kills, four digs, three aces and one set assist, while Sowell added two kills, two blocks and one dig.

Setters sophomore Maecy Johnson (Chrisman, Ill.) and freshman Libby Mehringer (Jasper, Ind.) continued to run the VU offense very efficiently, with Johnson leading the Blazers with 22 set assists and four digs, while Mehringer added 18 set assists, six digs and three aces.

Sophomore libero Morgan Netcott (Montague, Mich.) had another tough assignment defensively for the Blazers and again, more than held her own, leading the team with 18 digs and one set assist.

VU then looked to close out the weekend and go a perfect 4-0 when the Blazers took the floor against Oakland Community College from Oakland County, Mich.

Vincennes completed the weekend sweep, not only winning all four games, but also winning all 12 sets played by defeating the Raiders 25-9, 25-7, 25-18.

"Oakland has been a competitive program in the past, so we had to come in ready to play," Sien said. "As mentioned previously, our setting and set selection got better as the weekend went on. Besides Maecy and Libby, Dylan got in a couple of sets, so it was a great way for them to both receive experience and compete."

"I think our service game was outstanding," Sien added. "I think every server this weekend went on multiple runs. We want to place extreme pressure on every passer. That aspect helped us out in the Richard Bland match as we were inconsistent in play for parts of the match. The offense was exceptional as well too. We hit a combined .301 for all four matches, those are hard numbers to reach for every match."

VU was again led offensively by Paige Parlanti, who finished with 13 kills, four digs, two blocks and an ace.

Audrey Buis ended her weekend with six kills, a team-high seven digs and an ace, while Isadora Dias and Laura Tavares each recorded four kills, with Tavares also getting a block.

Kennedy Sowell came away with a pair of aces, one kill and one solo block, while freshman blocker Allison Czyzewski (Louisville, Ill.) recorded two kills and two blocks in the match.

Maecy Johnson again had a big game setting the VU offense, leading the Blazers with eight set assists, four digs, four aces and one kill.

Libby Mehringer matched Johnson's four aces, while also adding seven set assists and one dig.

Freshman setter Dylan DeCoursey (Montgomery, Ind.) also saw the floor against Oakland C.C., ending with two set assists and one dig.

Morgan Netcott ended her weekend with three set assists and three digs, while freshman Grace Flexter (Oblong, Ill.) ended with four digs and one ace.

The Trailblazers will be on the road again to begin next week when VU heads to Mt. Carmel, Ill. for a Region 24 showdown at Wabash Valley College Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. eastern.

"We have to be ready for the usual hostile environment," Sien said about the upcoming match. "Throw the records out the window. We will always get everyone's best shot. We will have to play at a high level and sustain it to get the win. No one will just give it to you. You will have to go out and take it."

VU will return home to the Physical Education Complex this weekend when Vincennes hosts the annual Blazer Classic Friday, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9.

Vincennes will begin the weekend slate Friday against Ancilla College at 3 p.m. eastern before ending the day by facing off against Mineral Area College at 7 p.m. eastern.

The Trailblazers will then close out the weekend Saturday by taking on Spoon River College at 11 a.m. eastern and Jefferson College at 3 p.m. eastern.

BOX SCORE

GAME ONE

St Johns River State – 20   20   11   x   x

VUVB (7-1, 3-0) – 25   25   25   x   x

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Audrey Buis – 7.5 points, 7 kills, 1 block assist, 5 digs

Morgan Netcott – 18 digs, 1 set assist

Paige Parlanti – 22 points, 3 aces, 17 kills, 1 solo block, 2 block assists, 8 digs

Isadora Dias – 4 points, 4 kills, 2 digs, 1 set assist

Maecy Johnson – 4 digs, 22 set assists

Kennedy Sowell – 3.5 points, 2 kills, 1 solo block, 1 block assist, 1 dig

Elisa Dalla Pozza – 8.5 points, 3 aces, 4 kills, 3 block assists, 4 digs, 1 set assist

Laura Tavares – 10 points, 9 kills, 2 block assists

Libby Mehringer – 3 points, 3 aces, 6 digs, 18 set assists

GAME TWO

Oakland C.C. – 9   7   18   x   x

VUVB (8-1, 3-0) – 25   25   25   x   x

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Grace Flexter – 1 point, 1 ace, 4 digs

Audrey Buis = 7 points, 1 ace, 6 kills, 7 digs

Dylan DeCoursey – 1 dig, 2 set assists

Morgan Netcott – 3 digs, 3 set assists

Paige Parlanti – 15.5 points, 1 ace, 13 kills, 1 solo block, 1 block assist, 4 digs

Isadora Dias – 4 points, 4 kills

Allison Czyzewski – 3 points, 2 kills, 2 block assists

Maecy Johnson – 5 points, 4 aces, 1 kill, 4 digs, 8 set assists

Kennedy Sowell – 4 points, 2 aces, 1 kill, 1 solo block

Laura Tavares – 4.5 points, 4 kills, 1 block assist

Libby Mehringer – 4 points, 4 aces, 1 dig, 7 set assists