VU Volleyball season ends at Midwest District Semifinals

VINCENNES, Ind. – The four-time defending Region 24 champion Vincennes University volleyball team had their season come to an abrupt end Saturday afternoon.

The Trailblazers fell in five sets to Jefferson College in the NJCAA Division I Midwest District A Semifinals 25-15, 23-25, 23-25, 25-12, 13-15.

Vincennes got the match started off to a hot start after a back-and-forth start to the opening set, VU was able to put their game into overdrive down the stretch and close out set one by outscoring the Vikings 12-2 to take set one 25-15 and gain the early 1-0 match advantage.

Set two was another back-and-forth battle, with VU holding a narrow 19-16 lead late in the set before the Vikings answered back with five straight points to take a 23-20 lead.

Vincennes continued to battle and looked to send the set into overtime but were unable to overcome the deficit as Jefferson College evened up the match 1-1 by taking set two going the distance 25-23.

The Trailblazers jumped out to another early lead in set three, opening an 11-6 advantage before the Vikings rallied back with seven straight points to take a 14-12 lead.

Jefferson College would grow their lead to 22-16 before the Blazers rallied back with six straight to even the set at 22-22.

Jefferson College was able to close out the third set, going the distance 25-23 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Trailblazers had their backs against the wall in set four and looked to keep the season going with a series of scoring runs to help pull away late and take set four 25-12 to force a winner-take-all fifth set.

Set five saw the teams again trading side outs before Jefferson College looked to be in complete control at 13-8.

Vincennes was able to swing the momentum back with five straight points to even the score at 13-13 but were unable to get the lead back as the Vikings closed out the fifth set 15-13 and advance to the District Championships.

"The kids played their hearts out there this afternoon, what an incredible effort," VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. "If the statistics are correct, we had big time numbers in kills, blocks and hitting percentage. Unfortunately, we did not score a couple of crucial points here and there to finish the sets and the match, especially in sets two and three."

"Despite that, no one can take away their outstanding performance," Sien added.

The Trailblazer offense was led by an outstanding game by sophomore Isadora Dias (Rio Grande de Norte, Brazil) who finished the night with 23 kills, four digs and two blocks.

Sophomore Elisa Dalla Pozza (Vincenza, Italy) filled up the stats sheet, recording 16 kills, six blocks, three set assist, two digs and one ace.

Freshman Paulina Fister (Tuszyn, Poland) closed out her freshman campaign with a double-double with 10 kills, 19 digs, one set assist and one ace.

Sophomore Laura Tavares (Merida, Venezuela) finished her day with nine kills, three blocks and one dig.

Freshman Martyna Sadowska (Pila, Poland) had a good game with six kills, five blocks, one dig and one set assist.

Sophomore Allison Czyzewski rounded out the VU offensive numbers with three kills, four blocks and one set assist.

Sophomore setter Libby Mehringer (Jasper, Ind.) distributed the ball to the Trailblazer hitters, leading VU with 30 set assists, six digs and one ace in the match.

Freshman Rylee Edwards (Fairfield, Ill.) split time with Mehringer at the setter position, ending her day with 21 set assists, five digs and two aces.

Sophomore libero Grace Flexter (Oblong, Ill.) controlled the Trailblazer back row defense with a team-high 25 digs and two set assists, while freshman Julianna Rettig closes out the Vincennes box score with 11 digs and one ace.

"I thought Isadora had a great hitting game in a near career match," Sien said. "It is hard to stop her due to her length and reach. Paulina swung well and again she had a big block to hit around all match."

"Our middles, Allison and Elisa, combined to hit over .500 percent with only one error," Sien added. "Grace Paulina and Julianna covered the back row very well. When we pass, Libby and Rylee set an efficient offense."

The Trailblazers season ends with a final record of 30-13, with the graduating VU sophomore class securing their second 30-win season, second Region Championship and closing out a final record of 62-20 in two seasons with Vincennes.

"Just a group of excellent people from great families," Sien said of his graduating sophomores. "They are all motivated individuals and goal oriented. The future is very bright for each of the as they will have many opportunities after Vincennes University."

"These seven, Dylan, Grace, Libby, Isadora, Allison, Elisa and Laura, have etched their names into two back-to-back Region 24 Championships, this responsibility now goes to the freshmen to come back and extend that run," Sien added.

"Whether they continue to play volleyball or not, they will each get their degrees," Sien said. "It will be exciting to see where they all end up."

Other results from day one of the NJCAA Division I Midwest District A Tournament hosted by Vincennes University include Jefferson College winning over John A. Logan College 21-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 15-13. Iowa Western Community College winning over Lincoln Trail College 25-11, 25-12, 25-12 and Missouri State-West Plains winning over Iowa Western Community College 25-14, 25-18, 25-15.

Jefferson College advances to the Championship match of the Midwest District A Tournament, where they will face Missouri State-West Plains tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. eastern inside the Physical Education Complex.

BOX SCORE

Jefferson – 15    25    25    12    15

VUVB (30-13, 18-3) – 25   23   23   25   13

VINCENNES STATS

Grace Flexter – 25 digs, 2 set assists

Paulina Fister – 11 points, 1 ace, 10 kills, 19 digs, 1 set assist

Rylee Edwards – 2 points, 2 aces, 5 digs, 21 set assists

Julianna Rettig – 1 point, 1 ace, 11 digs

Laura Tavares – 10.5 points, 9 kills, 3 block assists, 1 dig

Isadora Dias – 24 points, 23 kills, 2 block assists, 4 digs

Allison Czyzewski – 5 points, 3 kills, 4 block assists, 1 set assist

Martyna Sadowska – 8.5 points, 6 kills, 5 block assists, 1 dig, 1 set assist

Elisa Dalla Pozza – 20 points, 1 ace, 16 kills, 6 block assists, 2 digs, 3 set assists

Libby Mehringer – 1 point, 1 ace, 6 digs, 30 set assists