VINCENNES, Ind. – VU Volleyball freshman Julianna Rettig (Antioch, Ill.) signed her letter of intent earlier this week to join the volleyball program at NAIA Oakland City University in Oakland City, Ind. next season.
"I had great contact with the coach and some of the players," Rettig said. "I wanted to find a four-year school that I could settle down in for good and I thought Oakland City was a perfect choice for me. It is close to home and seems to have everything I need to succeed."
"Julianna offers quite a bit in her skillset," VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. "In the past, she has set, hit and played defense. She was out almost a quarter of the season but did a great job of catching up to everyone else. Julianna was able to earn playing time as a defensive specialist and had some big matches during our run in the Region tournament. She also brings the ability to set and to run a quick offense."
Rettig joined the Trailblazers this past season after redshirting one season at Southwest Baptist University.
In Rettig's one season with the Blue and Gold she registered 142 digs in 23 matches this season with the Trailblazers.
Her best games of the season came against Lincoln Trail College and Kaskaskia College where she finished with 13 digs in each game, helping the Blazers to victories in both matches.
Rettig helped the Trailblazers finish the season with a 30-13 record and winning VU's fourth straight NJCAA Division I Region 24 Championship.
"My favorite memory from VU was winning the Region Championship for the fourth year in a row at John A. Logan," Rettig added. "Vincennes University prepared me academically because it has helped me get a head start in my degree of sports management. It has prepared me athletically through training, one on ones and a 43 match schedule with elite competition."
Rettig will look to have a big impact at the next level as she joins a Mighty Oaks squad coming off a 9-21 season last year, including a 3-13 record in River State Conference play under Head Coach Allyson Moorman.
"Firstly, I'm sure this will be it for schools for Julianna as she transferred from Southwest Baptist to Vincennes and now to Oakland City," Sien said. "They are a fledgling volleyball program and have done some good things in the past couple of years. I know the priority is academics for Julianna so OCU offers that for her."
"Oakland City could be a destination school for us," Sien added. "We try to make relationships with four year programs within an hour of Vincennes, so we can place students there. That's partly why we compete against the four year programs in the Spring and in the preseason. This gives them a chance to see our players first hand."
The Vincennes University Athletic Department would like to congratulate Julianna Rettig on her signing with Oakland City University and wishes her good luck as she continues her playing career next season.