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ADDITIONAL PAY INCREASES PROPOSED FOR SELECT CITY OF EVANSVILLE EMPLOYEES

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POSTED BELOW IS THE LINK TO THE “SALARY SUMMARY” CONCERNING THE PROPOSED INCREASES FOR SELECT CITY EMPLOYEES

City Council SAC Salary Administration Summary 2022

(THE ABOVE “SALARY SUMMARY” IS AN EXHIBIT PUBLISHED IN THE PROPOSED 2023 EVANSVILLE CITY BUDGET.  THE “SALARY SUMMARY” WAS HANDED OUT TO ELECTED AND APPOINTED CITY OF EVANSVILLE OFFICIALS DURING THE CURRENT BUDGET HEARINGS)  

FOOTNOTES:
THE PROPOSED PERCENTAGES CONCERNING SALARY INCREASES OF THE OTHER FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE ARE LISTED BELOW: 
THE PROPOSED POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES PAY RAISE PERCENTAGE FOR THE BUDGET YEAR 2023 IS 3%.
THE PROPOSED FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES PAY RAISE PERCENTAGE FOR THE BUDGET YEAR 2023 IS 2%.
THE PROPOSED BARGAINING EMPLOYEES PAY RAISE PERCENTAGE FOR THE BUDGET YEAR 2023 IS 2%.
THE PROPOSED NON-BARGAINING EMPLOYEES PAY RAISE PERCENTAGE FOR THE BUDGET YEAR 2023 IS 1%.
MEMBERS OF THE SAC BOARD ARE MAYOR WINNECKE, CITY CONTROLLER, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR (HR), CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL FINANCIAL CHAIRPERSON, AND A MEMBER OF THE MINORITY POLITICAL PARTY.  THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR DECIDING THAT THE ABOVE 37 INDIVIDUALS WOULD RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL PAY INCREASES PERCENTAGE FOR THE 2023 BUDGET YEAR.
WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED CONFLICTING STATEMENTS CONCERNING MAYOR WINNECKE, CITY CLERK, AND EVANSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PROPOSED SALARY INCREASE FOR THE 2023 BUDGET YEAR.
WE ARE  TOLD THAT THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE EMPLOYS AROUND 1,200 FULL AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES.
THE 2023 EVANSVILLE CITY BUDGET MUST BE VOTED ON AND PASSED BY NOVEMBER, 1, 2022.
THE CITY-COUNTY OBSERVER POSTED THIS ARTICLE WITHOUT BIAS.

 

Attorney General Warns Hoosiers Of Identity Theft Victims

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Attorney General Warns Hoosiers Of Identity Theft Victims

Attorney General Todd Rokita is warning Hoosiers of the risk of identity theft victims developing a range of mental illnesses after scammers target and steal their hard-earned money.

Identity theft is a constant threat to all Americans. In 2020, nearly 50% of the country was financially harmed by identity theft, according to a study done by the Aite Group.

“In today’s world, we are tied to technology, whether it’s our phones or our computers, and we often feel obligated to stay connected and respond to anyone and everyone who reaches out,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Most people can detect a fraudster when they are face-to-face, but it’s easy to fall victim to identity theft when you’re pressured over the phone or email. What is not recognized often enough is that this is an emotional rollercoaster for people, and it can result in depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses.”

Injured parties often experience fear, exhaustion, and anger. When people have the stress of financial loss combined with these feelings, long-lasting mental health conditions are more likely to arise if left untreated.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans’ reported losses from identity theft grew from $3.3 billion in 2020 to $5.8 billion in 2021. This creates an even larger pool of victims at risk of developing mental illness.

Attorney General Todd Rokita warns Hoosiers of the following red flags that could lead to identity theft:

  • Stolen checks, credit cards, or debit cards
  • Unfamiliar online purchases on financial statements
  • Mysterious medical charges
  • Emails asking for personal information
  • Phone calls or text messages seeking credit card or bank account information
  • Scammers using computer programs that track your personal information
  • Scammers digging through household trash to find private information.

If you believe you have encountered identity theft, please visit  www.IndianaConsumer.com.

If signs of anxiety, depression, or any other form of mental illness develop, contact a physician immediately or visit www.in.gov/bewellindiana/.

A headshot of Attorney General Rokita is available for download.

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This email was sent to citycountyobserver@live.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Indiana Attorney General · Indiana Government Center South, 302 W. Washington St., 5th Floor · Indianapolis, IN 46204 · 317-232-6201 GovDelivery logo

Notre Dame Football Player Who Inspired Movie “Rudy” Shares Powerful Messages With VU Students

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VINCENNES, Ind., August 17, 2022 –

The University of Notre Dame and Rudy Ruettiger, whose true life story was immortalized in one of the best sports movies of all time, “Rudy”, are synonymous with each other.

Before Ruettiger walked on to the Notre Dame football team and became a famous sports hero and motivational speaker, he studied at Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Indiana.

At the time, Holy Cross was a two-year school. His Holly Cross education launched him on a trajectory that forever changed his life.

“My victory was a junior college because a junior college helped me get to a four-year college,” Ruettiger said.

Ruettiger was the featured speaker of Vincennes University Student Activities Welcome Week. Ruettiger kept VU students, faculty, and staff on the edge of their seats at the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, Aug. 16.

He shared how he overcame unimaginable odds, including dyslexia and his 5-foot-6 stature, to realize his dream of attending and playing for Notre Dame in the 1970s and how he persevered to get a movie made about one of the greatest underdog college sports stories ever.

VU Law Enforcement major Chase Martoccia of Columbus, Indiana, wore a Notre Dame jersey with the No. 45, the number worn by Ruettiger, in hopes of meeting his hero and having him sign his jersey. He not only had the opportunity to meet Ruettiger, but Martoccia won a football autographed by him.

“I’ve had this Rudy jersey for about four or five years,” Martoccia said. “I thought this was the perfect day to wear it. It is my dream to go to Notre Dame. I feel like I can get there. If he did it, I can do it. I just have to study hard.”

After serving in the Navy, Ruettiger used his GI bill benefits to study at Holy Cross, then Notre Dame. He praised the value of a two-year education like the one he received at Holy Cross.

“You get more personal attention, and the professors really care,” Ruettiger said. “They believe in you. That is the junior college motto.”

At Holy Cross, Ruettiger developed a game plan for four semesters and was told that he will get accepted into Notre Dame if you “are willing to do a lot of hard work and go to class every day.”

“I was told, “If you go to class every day, we promise you’ll get good grades here because we don’t fail anybody if you come to class every day because you can’t help but to learn,” Ruettiger said. “If you don’t know something, you’ve got to ask your friends because your friends will help you learn. That’s how I learned in the Navy.”

Ruettiger applied to Notre Dame multiple times before he was accepted. Once there, he continued to work hard and made the football team as a walk-on player. In the final home contest of the 1975 season, he fulfilled his dream of playing in a game for the Fighting Irish. He did more than just get in the game. With time running out, Ruettiger tackled the Georgia Tech quarterback, and he was carried off the field in celebration.

“It took me 27 years to play 27 seconds to make that tackle,” Ruettiger said. “Was it worth it? Absolutely. You don’t have to be good to be somebody. You just have to be passionate and excited about who you are and what you are doing.”

Following Ruettiger’s speech, eager students, faculty, and staff patiently waited in a long line that stretched across the RSPAC stage and aisles to pose for photographs with Ruettiger and get his autograph.

VU Zoology and Marine Biology major Abyela Cruz of French Lick, Indiana, had Ruettiger autograph her sketchbook. She was inspired by his powerful message of “never give up.”

“I saw the movie and thought it was really cool,” Cruz said. “I was excited to see a celebrity in person.”

Ruettiger spoke about his journey, perseverance, and how the students in that very room could also succeed. He encouraged everyone to work hard, have determination, and most of all believe in oneself.

UE Women Volleyball Earns Highest Preseason MVC Ranking

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Aces Women Volleyball Chosen Second In Preseason MVC Poll

 SAINT LOUIS – In its highest preseason ranking since joining the Missouri Valley Conference, the University of Evansville volleyball team was picked second in the annual coaches’ preseason poll.  Along with the team recognition, a pair of UE student-athletes were named to the 2022 MVC Preseason All-Conference Team with Alondra Vazquez and Melanie Feliciano earning the recognition.

Accumulating a total of 121 points and two first-place votes, the Purple Aces were second in the poll behind Illinois State, which received five of the 12 possible top votes.  Just behind Evansville was UIC with 108 points with Bradley being chosen fourth.

Evansville returns the core of its roster from its 2021 team that finished the season 21-12 overall and 9-9 in MVC play. The Aces return five starters plus their libero in 2022. Evansville is coming off its best season in over 30 years. The Purple Aces had their first 20-win season since 1988. With its perfor­mance during the season, UE was invited to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) where the team won two matches.

For the second time in her career, Alondra Vazquez garnered All-MVC First Team honors. Vazquez broke the single-season program record with 494 kills. Joining her on the first team was Melanie Feliciano. In her third sea­son with the program, Feliciano recorded 3.28 kills and 2.52 digs per set. One of the most electric players in the conference was the 2021 MVC Freshman of the Year Giulia Cardona. She paced the league with 0.50 service aces per set. Her final tally of 467 kills was the most by a freshman in program history.

The action begins for UE in just over a week with a trip to the Marshall Invitational in Huntington, W.Va.  The Aces open on Friday, August 26 with a 2 p.m. CT match versus Wright State.

Eagles Predicted To Finish Eighth In Volleyball

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball was predicted to finish eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference this season. The OVC released the preseason predicted order of finish Wednesday morning along with the 2022 Preseason All-OVC Team, where junior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois) landed herself on the team.

USI, which competes in NCAA Division I and OVC for the first time this season, will face a 29-game regular season with 18 conference matches. The Eagle’s first conference match will be a road contest against Tennessee Tech University on September 23 and 24.

Topping the preseason poll was Morehead State University which nabbed 153 total points and nine first-place votes. Reigning OVC Tournament Champion Southeast Missouri State University claimed second place with 145 points and seven first-place votes. Also securing votes were the University of Tennessee at Martin (125) and Tennessee Tech University (120) each receiving two first-place votes.
Rounding out the final six are the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (95), Eastern Illinois University (66), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (63), USI (48), Lindenwood University (43), and Tennessee State University (42).

Along with the preseason predicted poll, the OVC announced its 2022 Preseason All-OVC Team, where Anderson earned one of the 14 spots on the list. Anderson comes into 2022 ranked seventh all-time at USI with 139 service aces and 18th with 884 kills. She also finished last season with a team-high 301 kills and conference-most 67 service aces, earning her All-GLVC honors for the second straight season.

USI Head Coach Randi Raff returns nine players from last year’s roster, who finished 18-13, 11-7 GLVC in its final year in NCAA Division II. Since the hiring of Raff in 2019, the Eagles have earned 50 wins and a GLVC Tournament Championship during 2020-21.

The Eagles begin the 2022 campaign against IUPUI in a home exhibition match this Saturday at 11 a.m. USI follows with the regular season home opener versus Murray State University on August 26 and 27 at Screaming Eagles Arena. Game times are set for 6 p.m. and 2 p.m. respectively.

2022 OVC Volleyball Predicted Order of Finish
(as voted on by the league’s head coaches and communication directors)
1. Morehead State (Nine first-place votes) – 153
2. Southeast Missouri (Seven first-place votes) – 145
3. UT Martin (Two first-place votes) – 125
4. Tennessee Tech (Two first-place votes) – 120
5. Little Rock – 95
6. Eastern Illinois – 66
7. SIUE – 63
8. Southern Indiana – 48
9. Lindenwood – 43
10. Tennessee State – 42

2022 Volleyball Preseason All-OVC Team
(as voted on by the league’s head coaches and communication directors)
Zoey Beasley, Southeast Missouri
Bridget Bessler, Morehead State
Taylor Dorsey, Tennessee Tech
Gina Rivera-Ortiz, Tennessee State
Karen Scanlon, UT Martin
Tara Beilsmith, Southeast Missouri
Olivia Saunders, UT Martin
Irene Wogenstahl, Morehead State
Madolyn Isringhausen, Tennessee Tech
Abby Hulsman, Morehead State
Logan Wallick, UT Martin
Colby Greene, Southeast Missouri
Leah Anderson, Southern Indiana
Nedima Kamberovic, Little Rock

UE Holds Ribbon Cutting for New Residence Hall

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Nearly 300 first- and second-year students will soon move into the 4-level building

EVANSVILLE, IN (08/17/2022) On August 16, the University of Evansville (UE) held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its New Residence Hall. Breaking ground 15 months earlier on May 18, 2021, the event marked the official opening of the building, which will house nearly 300 first- and second-year students.

The ribbon cutting ceremony included words from Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz, president of UE; Bob Jones, board of trustees chair; vice presidents; and the student government association president. Guests in attendance included employees, alumni, members of the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP), and more. Afterwards, a celebration was held under a tent on Walnut Street. The Office of Residence Life also provided tours of the New Residence Hall.

“Our University is very excited about this building and the new home it will become for future generations of Aces,” Pietruszkiewicz said. “The structure of the living spaces stemmed from a survey of our students and is designed to exceed their expectations. We are building for the future, and there is much more to come.”

The New Residence Hall has four floors and features 293 beds across a mixture of four- and six-person “pod” structures. Each pod includes bedrooms with either single or double occupancy, one or two private bathrooms, and a shared living space and kitchenette. The first floor features an entryway and front desk, laundry room, mail room, living space, and kitchen complete with appliances. The U-shaped building totals 83,000 square feet and has a central courtyard that features landscaping, picnic tables, seating, and grilling stations.

This residence hall is located near the corner of Walnut Street and Rotherwood Avenue and takes the place of Brentano and Morton Residence Halls. Brentano Residence Hall opened in 1966 and was dedicated to A.A. “Gus” Brentano, who worked for The Evansville Courier and Keller Crescent for many years. Morton Residence Hall opened in 1968 and was dedicated to Ruth Wertz Morton in 1972. She and her husband, Thomas, were loyal supporters of UE, contributing to many scholarships and campaigns over the years.

The University of Evansville empowers students to think critically, act bravely, serve responsibly, and live meaningfully in a changing world. Through an innovative academic curriculum combined with practical hands-on experiences, UE students engage the local and international community in meaningful ways. With a diverse student body from 44 states and 48 countries, students choose from an array of majors in business, engineering, arts and sciences, and health science. UE graduates engage the world and workplace with the tools and skills to excel in fulfilling careers. For more information, please visit evansville.edu.

Record Year For Indiana Farms Receiving Historic Homestead Award

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Record Year For Indiana Farms Receiving Historic Homestead Award

 Recognized for their families’ longstanding commitment to agriculture, 106 Indiana family farms were presented the Hoosier Homestead Award today at the Indiana State Fair from Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of AgricultureDirector Bruce Kettler.

“Recognizing and engaging Indiana’s historic farming families with Hoosier Homestead awards at the Indiana State Fair is an honor for me each year,” said Crouch, who is Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “The hard work, consistency and longstanding values within these families is inspirational. These families and their farms are securing a strong future for many generations to come.”

To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years, and consist of 20 acres or more, or produce more than $1,000 in agricultural products per year.

Based on the age of the farm, families are eligible for three different distinctions of the Hoosier Homestead Award. They can receive the Centennial Award for 100 years, Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years or Bicentennial Award for 200 years of ownership.

“Since the formation of these farms, these families have provided for their communities, our state and the Indiana agriculture industry. It is hard to put into words the value and impact these family farms have on Hoosier agriculture as a whole,” Kettler said. “It is my utmost pleasure to recognize these record number of longstanding families for their hard work in providing the food, fuel and fiber necessary to sustain our state.”

Since the program’s inception in 1976, over 6,100 families have received the award. Often, a Hoosier Homestead farm is easily recognized because most recipients proudly display their awarded sign on their property.

For this ceremony four Indiana farms received the Bicentennial Award for 200 years of continuous ownership. They include, the Speer family farm from Jennings county, the Hartman family farm from Parke county and the Layton Acres, Inc. family farm and the Logan family farm, both from Rush county. 

The following list includes the August 2022 Hoosier Homestead Award recipients. 

County Award Name Award Year Award Type
Adams Braun 1880 Centennial
Allen Dafforn 1874 Centennial
Allen Doctor 1872 Sesquicentennial 
Allen Fulk 1861 Sesquicentennial 
Allen Hille 1875 Centennial
Allen Kurtz 1872 Sesquicentennial 
Allen Matthias 1860 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Allen Wiegman 1860 Sesquicentennial 
Bartholomew Bolte 1881 Centennial
Bartholomew Mckinney 1883 Centennial
Benton Keller-Quigg-Moyars 1865 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Boone Laughner/Hancock 1862 Sesquicentennial 
Cass Binney 1921 Centennial
Cass Scherer 1862 Sesquicentennial 
Clark Raymond & Viola Schafer 1922 Centennial
Clay Jones 1870 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Clay Killion 1830 Sesquicentennial 
Clay Milligan, Brown & Thomas 1863 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Clinton Carter 1905 Centennial
Clinton Mohler 1922 Centennial
Daviess Arvin/Bradley 1906 Centennial
Daviess Mathies 1919 Centennial
Dearborn Robert & Anna Frey 1917 Centennial
Decatur Clark 1919 Centennial
Decatur Fischmer 1921 Centennial
Decatur Norman Burkhart 1920 Centennial
Decatur Sefton 1922 Centennial
DeKalb Creager 1861 Sesquicentennial 
DeKalb Dermott 1889 Centennial
DeKalb Schrader 1907 Centennial
Delaware Evans 1896 Centennial
Dubois Hopf 1920 Centennial
Dubois Glenn Menke 1872 Sesquicentennial 
Dubois Melvin Menke 1872 Sesquicentennial 
Dubois Verkamp 1871 Sesquicentennial 
Dubois Weyer 1870 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Fulton Burton 1919 Centennial
Fulton Wagoner-Tobey-Eizinger 1920 Centennial
Fulton Walsh 1898 Centennial
Grant Wright 1839 Centennial & Sesquicentennial
Greene Calvert/Murdock 1919 Centennial
Hamilton Curfman 1903 Centennial
Hamilton Chris & Heather Knapp 1906 Centennial
Hamilton Donald E. Knapp 1906 Centennial
Hamilton Fred Knapp 1906 Centennial
Hamilton Ronald & Patricia Knapp Brockett 1906 Centennial
Hancock Deerburg 1869 Sesquicentennial 
Harrison Richmer 1847 Sesquicentennial 
Hendricks Leak 1863 Sesquicentennial 
Howard Farwick-Williams 1914 Centennial
Howard Hollingsworth-Newlin 1898 Centennial
Jackson Mellenbrunch/Otte/Rieker 1847 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Jackson Meyer-Borgman 1866 Sesquicentennial 
Jackson Siefker 1848 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Jefferson Storm-Spencer 1845 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Jennings Speer 1820 Centennial, Sesquicentennial & Bicentennial
Johnson B&G LaGrange, Inc. 1835 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
LaPorte Lachner 1922 Centennial
LaPorte Maerz-Kloss 1884 Centennial
LaPorte Mark 1881 Centennial
LaPorte Sullivan 1868 Sesquicentennial 
Marshall Redman 1920 Centennial
Martin Keller & Hewitt 1881 Centennial
Morgan Brown 1837 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Morgan Brown 1886 Centennial
Morgan Harry Goss & Bessie M. Dow 1823 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Morgan Jackson 1846 Sesquicentennial 
Morgan Luther & Jessie Pruitt 1922 Centennial
Morgan Pearcy – Burns – Cook 1905 Centennial
Morgan Pearcy – Burns – Cook 1905 Centennial
Morgan Pearcy-Burns-Cook-Stephany 1918 Centennial
Morgan Stierwalt 1856 Sesquicentennial 
Parke Hartman 1822 Centennial, Sesquicentennial & Bicentennial
Parke Mabel Thompson 1877 Centennial
Porter John Dick & Pollaro 1901 Centennial
Pulaski Brucker 1922 Centennial
Pulaski Hartmann 1890 Centennial
Randolph Fraizer 1872 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Ripley Ahrens 1873 Centennial
Rush Cole 1922 Centennial
Rush Layton Acres, Inc. 1822 Sesquicentennial & Bicentennial
Rush Logan 1821 Bicentennial
Shelby G. Wayne and Freda Eck 1866 Sesquicentennial 
St. Joseph  Andert 1921 Centennial
St. Joseph  Cordray 1872 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
St. Joseph  Verhaeghe 1922 Centennial
St. Joseph  Widler 1922 Centennial
Starke Bortell 1919 Centennial
Starke Siedentop 1922 Centennial
Tippecanoe Inskeep-McDole,Dilley-Gilbert,Diem-Tishler 1910 Centennial
Union Snyder 1891 Centennial
Vanderburgh Martin 1858 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Vigo McLaughlin/LaDue 1854 Sesquicentennial 
Wabash Beauchamp & Ulrey 1872 Sesquicentennial 
Wabash Winkler 1845 Sesquicentennial 
Warren Frasch 1864 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Warren Mary Beth (Dysert) Brubaker 1855 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Warren Mehaffey Farms 1881 Centennial
Warren Pusey McCloud 1854 Sesquicentennial 
Warrick Kroeger-Suscott 1862 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Washington Hoar 1829 Centennial & Sesquicentennial 
Washington Walter L. Grimes, Scott R. & Linda Grimes Martin 1869 Sesquicentennial 
Wells Captain 1917 Centennial
Wells Minnich 1860 Sesquicentennial 
White Fry-Nice-Cosgray 1881 Centennial
White Moore 1896 Centennial

For more information about the Hoosier Homestead Award program, please visit isda.in.gov. Photos from today’s ceremony will be posted to ISDA’s Flickr page by Friday, August 19, 2022.

Reloaded Trailblazers Volleyball Team Set To Begin Region Title Defense

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VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Volleyball program looks to start the VU Athletics season with a bang on Sunday, August 21, when VU hosts Region 24 opponent Shawnee Community College and East Central (Mo.) College in tri-match action.

The Trailblazers are coming off of a historic season in 2021, which saw VU capture their first Region Championship in 15 years and first Region title at the NJCAA Division I level.

Never wanting to settle, Head Coach Gary Sien continues to set his sights higher coming into the 2022 season after bringing in another tremendous recruiting class.

Vincennes will have five returning sophomores for the 2022 season, including setters Hannah Graber (Montgomery, Ind.) and Josephine Mulligan (Saint John, Ind.).

Sophomores Kaley Roush (Shoals, Ind.), Lara Gomes de Castro (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Malgorzata Banasiak (Gdynia, Poland) will also return to the P.E. Complex floor for the 2022 season.

“We always want our returning sophomores to come in as leaders,” Sien said. “Even beyond the volleyball court, we look for them to bring their life experiences from being at VU and communicate that to the incoming freshmen. Things like knowing where all of the buildings on campus are at. I just really like how they have taken these freshmen under their wing.”

“At this level, pretty much every school has a new team every year and we just don’t have the time to gel as much as a team as I would like,” Sien added. “But I feel like our sophomores have done a good job of that since they have been back on campus. This sophomore class will be shouldering a lot of responsibility, especially with only returning one hitter from last year’s team.”

“Probably the most crucial thing we have going for us is that we are returning both setters from last year’s team,” Sien said. “The setters are very important on the floor, so it is very nice to have both setters returning from last year. We usually return one, but it has been a while since we were able to have both setters back.”

Coach Sien had a tough task this offseason as he will look to replace 87 percent of his team’s kills and 88 percent of blocks from the 2021 season.

The incoming freshman class will have some big shoes to fill as VU looks to replace 2021 Region 24 Player of the Year Grace Earp (Mattoon, Ill.) and All-Region 24 honoree Addison Ainscough (Cannelburg, Ind.).

Vincennes will also be without the front row presence of outgoing sophomores Emilie Cornelson (Saskatoon, Canada), Jamie Russell (East St. Louis, Ill.), and third-year sophomore Breanna Metzger (Dale, Ind.).

The Trailblazers will be without Russell who signed with NAIA Stephens College in Missouri over the off-season and Jagoda Szybinska (Poznan, Poland) who signed to play at NCAA Division II Northern State University in South Dakota to play with her twin sister.

Coach Sien hit the recruiting trail hard over the offseason, bringing in eight new freshmen who will all be competing for spots in the rotation this season.

VU welcomes in outside hitters Paige Parlanti (Las Vegas, Nev.), Alexis Chrappa (Effingham, Ill.) and Audrey Buis (Franklin, Ind.), as well as middle blockers Kennedy Sowell (Effingham, Ill.), Nisa Salis (Ankara, Turkey) and Tuana Turhan (Ankara, Turkey).

Coach Sien also signed Maecy Johnson (Chrisman, Ill.) and Morgan Netcott (Montague, Mich.) to help bolster the Trailblazers back row defense and as additional options for setting this season.

“Primarily, I want the incoming freshmen to understand what last year’s team did and how historical winning the Region Championship was,” Sien said. “But on top of that, they now have their chance to leave their own mark on the program here, as the next step is to get to the District Championship and the winner of that goes to the National Tournament. So there are still goals to be achieved here.”

“I also want to make sure the incoming freshmen understand the great rivalries what we have here within Region 24,” Sien added. “Even though we are still the new kids to the Region, we have earned their respect, even before winning the Championship last year. That might be difficult to understand at first, until we start playing the games, but I say it is like facing your biggest rival in high school, magnified by 100 times. These are some hard-fought, emotional matches within Region 24.”

“We graduated and lost quite a bit off of last year’s team,” Sien said. “When you lose your Player of the Year libero, it is going to be hard to replace that level of back row ball control. We also lost a majority of our front row and blocking from last year. But that will happen some years at this level, but regardless of all of that, these freshmen will get the chance to step up.”

“We don’t have the time to worry about the people who aren’t here,” Sien added. “I’m more worried about the people who are here. We just need to treat it with a ‘next man up’ mentality and be ready when your number is called because now it will be called. These freshmen are going to be filling some big shoes this year that maybe they didn’t think they would have to this year, but now they will and they have to. All of us need to step up.”

The Trailblazers will begin the 2022 season with a flurry of matches, playing six matches in seven days during the first week of the season.

VU will begin their Region title defense Sunday, Aug. 21 when the Trailblazers host Shawnee Community College at 12 p.m. Eastern and East Central (Mo.) College at 4 p.m. eastern.

The Trailblazers will also host Lincoln Trail College Tuesday, Aug. 23 at the P.E. Complex. That match is set to begin at 7 p.m. eastern.

“My expectations and goals for every season never change,” Sien said. “Repeat as Region Champions and then my goal every year is to make it to the National Championships. I think that is the goal of all of us coaches at VU, with our ultimate goal is to win the National Championship. If we fall short, fine. But that is always going to be one of our goals. We are just going to train as hard as we can so we can be ready when we get in that position.”

All VU Volleyball home games will be live streamed on the Vincennes University Stretch Live portal, which can be found under the ‘Inside Athletics’ tab on the VU Athletics website.