VUVB makes big addition with middle blocker Nicole De la Cruz

VINCENNES, Ind. – The four-time defending Region 24 Champion Vincennes University volleyball team made another big addition to their 2025 recruiting class in six-foot two middle blocker Nicole De la Cruz.

"Nicole is definitely a very strong player and a very strong blocker," VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. "She's very long. She runs the slide set very well and typically we like our middles to run that one-leg take off behind the setter. She has some international experience from playing on the Junior National team for the Dominican Republic at the Pan American Cup in 2023. She also has some beach volleyball experience as well."

"She's got a really unique situation where she plays for her high school team in the fall but then pretty much the whole team plays together during the spring for the Goldenbulls 18 Club team," Sien added. "Nicole puts up a pretty big block because of her length."

"The Dominican Republic is another one of those countries in the last 15 years or so that have done really well internationally," Sien said. "Volleyball in Florida is also very strong in the high schools and the clubs. Florida is up there in the top five or six states for volleyball right now."

De la Cruz comes to Vincennes University after an outstanding senior season at The Academy of Central Florida in Orlando.

De la Cruz helped guide her team to a 26-10 record this past season, playing in 32 matches and finishing the season with 440 kills, 122 blocks, 45 digs, 20 set assists and 15 aces.

De la Cruz also finished her senior season with an outstanding .418 hitting percentage, while setting a new school record with 440 kills on the year.

De la Cruz was recognized as the top player for her varsity volleyball team this past season.

De la Cruz helped guide her high school team to several tournament championships this past season, including the 2024 Lake Howell Invitational Silver Bracket Championship, 2024 Aggieland Come and Take it Regional Showcase Silver Bracket Championship, 2024 Bishop Moore Tournament Swing for Cure Gold Bracket Championship and culminating in the 2024 Florida Independent Christian Athletic Association (FICAA) State Championship.

De la Cruz also earned All-Tournament team honors at the FICAA State Championships.

De la Cruz is originally from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic where she was a member of the Under 19 National Team for the Dominican Republic.

Nicole is the daughter of Luis De la Cruz and Ingrid De la Rosa and plans to major in Physical Therapy at Vincennes University.

"In blocking, when you have someone of that height and length, you can miss a little bit in your timing in your jump and because you are that long, you are still okay," Sien said. "That's why we recruit that type of length since they can hang in the air longer. But like I always have said, we like players that have height but we do not recruit them unless they have that athletic ability as well."

"Typically your middles on most teams would be looked at more on the defensive end," Sien added. "Of course they have to be a big presence at the net but we also want them to be a good part of the offense as well. Ideally we try to run our offense through the middle because if you think about the net, all 30 feet across, if you keep your attack centralized and the defense moves in, then it opens up everything else across the net. We not only want our middles to be good blockers but we also want them to be attackers too so that we can run our offense through."

"You can really only go so far when your best hitters are your outside and right side hitters," Sien said. "Of course your best hitter is typically going to be your outside hitters. But you have to have that presence on the offensive end from pin to pin. When the middle is used as an attacker, it's going to hold the other team's middle blocker, so if you have that, your outside and rightside hitters will only have one blocker to hit against."

"I am incredibly proud of Nicole's decision to sign with Vincennes University," Nicole's High School Coach Rolando Armien said. "It's a testament to her hard work, dedication and the growth she's shown both on and off the court. Vincennes offers a great opportunity for her to continue developing as a player and student and I have no doubt she'll make an immediate impact. This is just the next chapter of an exciting journey and I can't wait to see all the success she'll achieve."

The Vincennes University Athletic Department is excited to welcome Nicole De la Cruz to the 2025 Trailblazer recruiting class.