Shorthanded Trailblazers pick up big Region 24 road sweep

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – The Vincennes University volleyball team has been battle tested early in this season with multiple starters out of the lineup Tuesday night as VU headed to Belleville to take on Southwestern Illinois College.

Vincennes was able to keep their composure in a hostile environment and come away with their 42nd straight Region 24 victory, winning over the Blue Storm 25-20, 25-17, 25-16.

The Blazers were able to break away first in the first set with a 6-0 scoring run to take a 10-5 lead.

Southwestern Illinois slowly chipped away at this VU lead, cutting the deficit down to a single point at 21-20 before the Blazers slammed the door on the first set by scoring the final four points to take set one 25-20.

VU continued to ride this momentum into the second set, quickly building a 9-3 lead and later seemed to be in full control with a 21-11 advantage.

Southwestern Illinois again continued to fight and began to swing the momentum with four straight points, but were unable to erase the Vincennes lead as the Trailblazers took set two 25-17 to take a 2-0 match lead.

Set three began as another back-and-forth battle with VU holding onto a narrow 12-11 lead before freshman Brooklyn Summers (Loogootee, Ind.) subbed in and helped guide the Blazers on a 5-0 scoring run from the service line.

Vincennes continued to add on with a later 6-1 scoring run to close out set three 25-16 and complete sweep over the Blue Storm.

"We were missing a number of players tonight but that's fine," VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. "We have full confidence in the ones we put on the floor tonight. Tough situation on the road but we challenged everyone to play big to fill up the holes that we have missing."

"I'm very proud of how each person rallied around each other despite the circumstances," Sien added. "Their toughness and grit were displayed tonight for all to see."

The VU offense was again led by a big game by sophomore Laura Tavares (Merida, Venezuela), who finished with 18 kills, four blocks, one dig and one set assist.

Sophomore Isadora Dias (Rio Grande de Norte, Brazil) continues to put up big numbers, finishing with eight kills, a team-high 21 digs and three blocks.

Freshmen Martyna Sadowska (Pila, Poland) and Paulina Fister (Tuszyn, Poland) stepped up in a big way Tuesday, with Sadowska getting five kills, five blocks, three digs and a pair of aces, while Fister ended her night with four kills and three digs.

Sophomore Allison Czyzewski (Louisville, Ky.) rounded out the VU offense with a pair of kills and one block.

Freshman Rylee Edwards (Fairfield, Ill.) stepped in at the setter position and ran a very good VU offense with 29 set assists and five digs.

Sophomore libero Grace Flexter (Oblong, Ill.) controlled the back row defense on her way to 16 digs and one ace.

Sophomore Dylan DeCoursey (Montgomery, Ind.) and freshman Brooklyn Summers rounded out the VU box score with DeCoursey recording four digs and one block, while Summers ended with three digs.

"We are, of course, concerned wit those missing but we have to be focused on those who are here," Sien said. "Rylee set an excellent match, making some great choices out there. She was also instrumental in us making big runs with her serves and in her defense."

"Martyna, who we recruited as a middle blocker, showed why we did that with her performance in hitting, blocking and in her serving," Sien added. "Paulina took some great swings out there as she is working her way back into the lineup."

"Laura was next level in her swings," Sien said. "That was probably a career night. We challenged our team members to lead and she led by her example. Isadora swung well and was outstanding in the back row as she covered from corner to corner."

The Trailblazers will look to keep this success rolling when VU returns home to the Physical Education Complex Friday, Sept. 13 to host Region 24 opponent Lincoln Trail College at 7 p.m. eastern on Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night.

"It will be a tough one," Sien said of Friday's upcoming match. "They had a great showing last year, making the Region Final Four in their first year at the Division I level and they will be aiming to do better this year. We have to be ready after the Faculty and Staff Recognition to play hard and play focused."

BOX SCORE

Southwestern Illinois – 20   17   16   x   x

VUVB (8-4, 4-0) – 25   25   25   x   x

VINCENNES STATS

Grace Flexter – 1 point, 1 ace, 16 digs

Paulina Fister – 4 points, 4 kills, 3 digs

Rylee Edwards – 5 digs, 29 set assists

Dylan DeCoursey – 0.5 points, 1 block assist, 4 digs

Brooklyn Summers – 3 digs

Laura Tavares – 21 points, 18 kills, 2 solo blocks, 2 block assists, 1 dig, 1 set assist

Isadora Dias – 9.5 points, 8 kills, 3 block assists, 21 digs

Allison Czyzewski – 2.5 points, 2 kills, 1 block assist

Martyna Sadowska – 9.5 points, 2 aces, 5 kills, 5 block assists, 3 digs