PARK HILLS, Mo. – The Vincennes University volleyball team opened a very tough weekend tournament Friday evening and split their first two games of this four-game weekend at the 2024 Mineral Area College Cardinal Classic in Missouri.
The Blazers took their first game of the day against Hutchinson Community College in Kansas 20-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-21, 15-12 before falling in game two of the day to host Mineral Area College 11-25, 15-25, 11-25.
Vincennes opened their day against Hutchinson Community College and this match was very even right from the beginning.
The two teams traded points for most of the opening set before the Blue Dragons pulled away late with five straight points and close out the first set with a 5-1 run to take set one 25-20 and gain the early 1-0 match lead.
Set two was another back and forth battle with Hutchinson gaining the early advantage with a 16-12 lead midway through the set before the Blazers battled back with four straight points.
Vincennes would close out the second set by scoring five of the final six points to take set two 25-21 and even the match at 1-1 going to a pivotal third set.
VU would ride this momentum into the third set, taking a 14-11 lead midway through the set before Hutchinson answered back strong with a pair of 4-0 scoring runs to pull away late and take set three 25-18.
Vincennes looked determined to force a fifth set early in set four, gaining the early 11-8 lead before Hutchinson shifted the momentum back to their side with six straight points.
The Trailblazers would get the momentum back with a 6-0 scoring run of their own, before using another late 6-0 scoring run to take set four 25-21 and force a winner take all fifth set.
In set five, Vincennes once again got out to the early lead, leading 11-5 before Hutchinson would rally back with five straight points to cut the deficit to a single point.
Vincennes was able to regain composure and close out the fifth set strong, completing the comeback with a 15-12 set five victory.
The VU offense was led by sophomore Laura Tavares (Merida, Venezuela) who finished the first match of the day with 17 kills, four blocks, two digs and one set assist.
