ULLIN, Ill. – The Vincennes University volleyball team fell out of the NJCAA Division I Top-20 rankings this week after Saturday's five-set loss at Wallace State, but still received votes.
The Blazers responded in a big way Tuesday night by picking up their 32nd straight win over a Region 24 opponent by sweeping Shawnee Community College 25-8, 25-13, 25-13 in Ullin.
"After such a tough weekend, we find ourselves on the road again," VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. "This time facing an opponent who will play us hard but less competitive than the teams we played. We must stay focused and play hard no matter who is on the other side of the net. We must respect them as fellow student-athletes who are not much different from ourselves. I feel we did that tonight, where we played aggressive from beginning to end."
The VU offense was led Tuesday night by freshman Laura Tavares (Meridia, Venezuela) who finished with 15 kills and one block with an unreal .444 hitting percentage.
Freshmen Elisa Dalla Pozza (Vincenza, Italy) and Isadora Dias (Rio Grande de Norte, Brazil) just missed hitting double-digit kills, with Dalla Pozza ending with nine kills, four digs, two blocks and a pair of aces and Dias leading the Blazers with 14 digs to go along with eight kills.
Sophomore Kennedy Sowell (Effingham, Ill.) ended her night with five kills and a .417 hitting percentage and one dig.
Freshman Libby Mehringer (Jasper, Ind.) had an outstanding team-high five aces, four kills, two blocks and two digs, while fellow freshman Allison Czyzewski (Louisville, Ill.) rounded out the VU offense with one kill and one dig.
Sophomore setter Maecy Johnson (Chrisman, Ill.) had another big night running the Trailblazers offense, ending with 37 set assists, two kills, one ace and one dig.
Sophomore libero Morgan Netcott (Montague, Mich.) ended her night with 12 digs, three set assists and one ace, while freshmen Grace Flexter (Oblong, Ill.) and Dylan DeCoursey (Montgomery, Ind.) each recorded three digs.
"Offense is something we do not lack," Sien said. "I knew we would have quite a bit of firepower coming into the season. We hit over .340 tonight without Audrey and Paige. Having everyone together will bring back one of the most potent offenses in the Nation. We will be a better team with this situation occurring with those two. Just like on Saturday, here is an opportunity to be the main hitter, who wants it?"
The Blazers will now look to get ready for another big weekend slate of games when VU travels to Champaign, Ill. to take part in the Parkland College Fall Challenge Friday, Sept. 29 and Saturday, Sept. 30.
Three of VU's four games over the weekend are against teams in the NJCAA Division II rankings, beginning the weekend Friday against No. 17-ranked Illinois Central College at 5 p.m. eastern and facing Southeastern Community College at 7 p.m. eastern.
The tough weekend for the Blazers will conclude Saturday, Sept. 30 when VU faces No. 4-ranked Heartland Community College at 12 p.m. eastern and No. 10 Lincoln Land Community College at 4 p.m. eastern.
"We will be more prepared to handle the different lineups and rotations as we will have a few matches and practices under our belt," Sien added. "We will have more consistency and confidence now with more time together. I do not think people outside of volleyball understand the dynamics of a change in a lineup. It's huge. It greatly influences the overall effectiveness of the team. Our expectations do not change. We are coming to win no matter who we have in the lineup."
BOX SCORE
VUVB (19-2, 8-0) – 25 25 25 x x
Shawnee – 8 13 13 x x
VINCENNES STATS
Grace Flexter – 3 digs
Dylan DeCoursey – 3 digs
Morgan Netcott – 1 point, 1 ace, 12 digs, 3 set assists
Isadora Dias – 8 points, 8 kills, 14 digs
Allison Czyzewski – 1 point, 1 kill, 1 dig
Maecy Johnson – 3 points, 1 ace, 2 kills, 1 dig, 37 set assists
Kennedy Sowell – 5 points, 5 kills, 1 dig
Elisa Dalla Pozza – 12 points, 2 aces, 9 kills, 2 block assists, 4 digs
Laura Tavares – 16 points, 15 kills, 1 solo block
Libby Mehringer – 10 points, 5 aces, 4 kills, 2 block assists, 2 digs