CENTRALIA, Ill. – The No. 18-ranked Vincennes University volleyball team extended their winning streaks Tuesday night with a big four-set Region 24 road win at Kaskaskia College, 25-22, 25-11, 22-25, 25-17.
The Trailblazers extended their winning streak to 11 matches and continued their winning streak against Region 24 opponents to 31 after the win.
The match started out as a back-and-forth battle, with Vincennes being the first team to separate themselves with a 5-0 scoring run to take a 9-5 lead.
Kaskaskia would continue to fight throughout the set, using a 6-1 scoring run to cut the VU lead to one but were unable to take the lead back as VU took set one 25-22 and earned a 1-0 match lead.
The Blue Angels got off to a quick start in set two, scoring the first three points before the Blazers answered back with four unanswered themselves.
VU would then ride this momentum to and go on to outscore the Blue Angels 15-3 through the middle of the set to give the Trailblazers a 20-8 advantage.
Kaskaskia looked to battle back but were unable to overcome the Blazers as Vincennes took set two 25-11 and gave VU a 2-0 match lead.
Vincennes went into set three looking to complete the sweep and early on looked well on their way after taking an early 8-2 lead in the third set.
The Blue Angels were not going to go away quietly on their home floor however, battling back to even the game at 10-10 and taking the lead with a 7-0 scoring run at 17-15.
Kaskaskia would grow their lead to four before VU would cut the deficit down to one point at 22-21 but were unable to overcome the deficit as the Blue Angels finished the set 25-22 and forced a fourth set.
Kaskaskia continued to put pressure on the Blazers in the fourth set, jumping out to an early 6-2 lead.
Vincennes then answered back with a 6-0 scoring run to take an 8-6 lead. The Blue Angels would take the lead back at 12-11 before VU outscored KC 7-2 to open a four-point lead.
The Trailblazers would never look back at this point, closing out the Blue Angels on the road by taking set four 25-17 and winning the match 3-1.
“We were without Audrey, so we had to do a makeshift lineup with a couple of position changes tonight,†VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. “I thought several players stepped up, in particular Isadora. She had a nice all-around game in the front row on her blocks and hits and a good job in her back row play and serving later on. She and Elisa combined for a number of stops at the net.â€
“The challenge was to stay highly competitive with this lineup and I thought we did very well overall,†Sien added. “Once again, blocking was the game changer as we literally took over the net and the match.â€
The VU offense was led by freshman Isadora Dias (Rio Grande de Norte, Brazil) who set a new career-high with 15 kills on the night, while also adding four blocks, four digs and an ace.
Sophomore Paige Parlanti (Las Vegas, Nev.) finished off another double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs to go along with four blocks and two aces.
Freshman Laura Tavares (Meridia, Venezuela) was the third VU hitter in double-figures, ending with 11 kills, six digs, three blocks and one set assist.
Freshman Elisa Dalla Pozza (Vincenza, Italy) picked up right where she left off last week, ending the night with a team-high nine blocks, seven kills, three digs and an ace.
Sophomore Kennedy Sowell (Effingham, Ill.) rounded out the VU front row production with four blocks, two digs and one kill.
The Trailblazer offense was run by sophomore setter Maecy Johnson (Chrisman, Ill.) who really showed off some versatility Tuesday night, playing as a setter, hitter and blocker.
Johnson set a new career-high with 36 set assists, ending with 30 or more set assists for the third time in the last four games, while also adding five digs, two blocks, two kills and a pair of aces.
Freshman setter Libby Mehringer (Jasper, Ind.) ended her night with seven set assists, six digs, one kill and one ace.
Sophomore libero Morgan Netcott (Montague, Mich.) continues to control the back row defense for the Blazers, leading VU Tuesday night with 16 digs and four set assists.
Freshman Grace Flexter (Oblong, Ill.) closed out the VU box score with five digs for the Blazers.
“Maecy was called to play all six rotations today and she did well in her net play, which she hasn’t done since last Fall,†Sien said. “I think she has worked her way into a very good, versatile setter. I talk all the time about making good choices at the right moment as a setter and she has learned to do that well.â€
“I think she deserves a lot of credit as someone who is still relatively new to the setting position,†Sien added.
VU will hit the road again this weekend when the Blazers take part in the Wallace State C.C. Fall Bash Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23 at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Ala.
The Trailblazers will have a weekend full of tough tests with three of Vincennes’ four matches coming against teams that received votes in this week’s NJCAA Division II National rankings.
The Blue and Gold will get the weekend started against RV Roane State Friday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m. before immediately turning around to face RV Enterprise State at 7 p.m. eastern.
Vincennes will close out the weekend on Saturday, Sept. 23 against Calhoun at 10 a.m. and against host RV Wallace State C.C. at 12 p.m. eastern.
“It was an excellent job by the team tonight, considering the lack of time for preparation,†Sien said. “That will happen, so we need to stay ready for anything to occur.â€
“We will see a different brand of volleyball down in Alabama this weekend,†Sien added. “The officiating too. We will have to have a fast start in every match. We will need to play at a quick pace and to really use our length. That is a tough combination for most teams to match.â€
BOX SCORE
VUVB (15-1, 7-0) – 25   25  22  25  x
Kaskaskia – 22   11  25  17   x
VINCENNES STATS
Grace Flexter – 5 digs
Morgan Netcott – 16 digs, 4 set assists
Paige Parlanti – 16 points, 2 aces, 12 kills, 4 block assists, 11 digs
Isadora Dias – 18 points, 1 ace, 15 kills, 4 block assists, 4 digs
Maecy Johnson – 5 points, 2 aces, 2 kills, 2 block assists, 5 digs, 36 set assists
Kennedy Sowell – 3 points, 1 kill, 4 block assists, 2 digs
Elisa Dalla Pozza – 12.5 points, 1 ace, 7 kills, 9 block assists, 3 digs
Laura Tavares – 12.5 points, 11 kills, 3 block assists, 6 digs, 1 set assist
Libby Mehringer – 2 points, 1 ace, 1 kill, 6 digs, 7 set assists
