VUVB’s Isadora Dias earns All-American honors

VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University sophomore and 2024 Region 24 Player of the Year Isadora Dias (Rio Grande de Norte, Brazil) added more accolades to her outstanding sophomore season this week with Dias being recognized as an NJCAA Division I Third Team All-American.

"Being recognized as a Third Team All-American is such an honor and it makes me incredibly emotional because there are so many great players in the country," Dias said. "This recognition motivates me to continue pushing myself to be the best I can be."

"I owe so much to Coach Gary and Coach Ariana for their guidance and belief in me and to my family who have been my foundation and biggest cheerleaders," Dias added. "I also want to honor my roots and the incredible coaches back in Rio Grande de Norte, Brazil who laid the groundwork for the player I am today. Joka Fontes, my very first coach, introduced me to the beauty of this sport, while Pequena, Ricardo, Andre and Matheus always believed in my potential, constantly challenging and inspiring me to keep growing."

"Isadora has grown so much as a player," VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. "I am so excited and proud of her. She is very unselfish and is constantly helping and encouraging other team members. She has learned to be comfortable in her own skin as a player, to be not too high and not too low. The toughest thing to learn as a volleyball player is to let go of a mistake and to move on to the next play. She has grown immensely in that aspect which explains her success this year."

"A year ago, we had Isadora play everywhere," Sien added. "She started on the right side and then played outside when we had injuries. After that, she played only back row for a while. To top it off, she played middle at the Region and District tournaments due to another injury. Could someone else on the team have done the same? Possibly. But she is the only one who can do it well and can handle those big moments. To take on at times a secondary role without complaint defines her selfless mindset."

"I think she literally came out of no where this year," Sien said. "Having no defined position a year ago, few would have known about her capabilities. Isadora has developed into one of the best outside hitters in the Nation. She has all the various shots that we teach our pin hitters. She has the next level blocking skills, the first contact abilities and the serving proficiency."

"She is a hard worker," Sien added. "Isadora and others would get in extra repetitions in all the various skills. There's no secret to success, it is reps and more reps. I am her coach of course but I haven't even begun to talk about Isadora's academic success. She works just as hard in the classroom. Imagine how difficult that is to do as an International student while doing all of this in your second language."

Dias had a breakout year for the Trailblazers, serving as a constant fixture on the court for the Blue and Gold this season.

Dias led the Trailblazers with an outstanding 465 kills during the 2024 season, averaging 3.25 kills per set.

Dias also contributed on the floor with 341 digs, 53 blocks, 35 set assists and 25 aces this past season.

Dias currently sits number five this season in all of NJCAA Division I volleyball in kills.

Dias finished out the season with 13 double-doubles and her best hitting match coming against Kaskaskia College in the opening round of the 2024 Region 24 tournament.

Dias finished that game with 13 kills and 14 digs while having a hitting percentage of .520.

Dias closes out her Trailblazer volleyball career with 716 kills, 454 digs, 129 blocks, 41 set assists and 34 aces.

Dias is the second Trailblazer to earn All-American honors at the NJCAA Division I level, joining Paige Parlanti (2023) and sixth VUVB All-American overall along with Mariane Tobolski (1986), Jennifer Wirtz (2004), Kayla Holloway (2005) and Audrey Curry (2006) who earned NJCAA Division II All-American honors.

"This recognition means being part of the legacy of this program," Dias said. "The dedication of my teammates and the constant support of my coaches and family, Knowing I've contributed to the rich history of VUVB fills me with pride. It's truly an honor to be part of something so meaningful and I hope to inspire future Trailblazer volleyball players just as I was inspired by those recognized before me."

"This achievement is the most difficult to get of course," Sien said. "With only 30 selections, having high statistics is not enough. Your team success has to come into play. If you look at the other All-Americans this year, many of them played in the National Tournament and/or were Nationally ranked."

"So for Isadora to receive this honor is quite an achievement as it not only gives her individual recognition but it puts a huge spotlight on this program," Sien added. "We now have the most All Americans in Region 24 since our first year in the Region in 2018."

Dias earned Third Team Academic All-American honors last year and was also named to the 2024 Blazer Classic All-Tournament team.

Dias helped guide the Vincennes University volleyball team to a record of 30-13 this past season, including securing VU's fourth straight NJCAA Division I Region 24 Championship and close out her Trailblazer career with a combined record of 62-20 with a 32-3 record against Region 24 opponents.

"I hope this honor highlights the growth and potential of the entire VU Volleyball program," Dias added. "It reflects the hard work, dedication and passion that our team, coaches and staff put into building something truly special. As the program continues to grow and gain national recognition, I hope it inspires others to see the talent and strength within the team and encourages future Trailblazers to follow in our footsteps."

"Individually, this will bring even more interest from four-year programs for Isadora," Sien said. "She has already received several inquiries including some DI interest. It will not only get her more recruiting opportunities but others on the team as well. Isadora's success equals team success as she obviously did not do all of this on her own. It will be exciting to see where she and all the other sophomores end up at for next year. This achievement will provide the program even more interest and recognition."

The Vincennes University Athletic Department would like to congratulate Isadora Dias on a great season and another outstanding honor.