Trailblazers overcome early deficit to down Lady Statesmen in four sets

ROBINSON, Ill. – The Vincennes University volleyball team added another win to their already impressive 26-game Region 24 winning streak Thursday night when the Blazers traveled to take on Lincoln Trail College in Robinson.

VU fell behind early after dropping the first set but were able to bounce back and win the match in four sets, 22-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-18.

Vincennes got off to a great start in their first road game of the season, scoring the first three points of the match to begin set one and held onto this lead at 9-7.

Lincoln Trail then seemed to take control in the middle of set one, going on a 7-1 scoring run to take a 14-10 lead over VU and grab all the momentum.

VU would answer back to even the score at 16-16, before the Statesmen again rallied late to come away with the first set victory 25-22.

The Blazers looked to bounce back from this early deficit and took control of set two from the beginning, scoring the first four points before continuing to build an 18-8 lead.

Lincoln Trail would attempt to mount a late comeback, going on a 5-1 scoring run of their own, but it was not enough as VU took set two 25-16 and evened the match at 1-1 heading to the third.

Lincoln Trail looked to grab the early momentum in set three, jumping out to a quick 4-1 advantage, before VU launched a massive 8-0 scoring run behind some excellent serving by freshman Isadora Dias (Rio Grande de Norte, Brazil).

Lincoln Trail would again rally back on their home floor, cutting the deficit down to a single point, but were unable to complete the comeback and take the lead as VU pulled away to take set three 25-19 and gain a 2-1 advantage in the match.

VU looked to put the match away early in set four, building off of their momentum from set three, after a back and forth start Vincennes would outscore the Lady Statesmen 13-3 to take a 19-9 advantage.

The two teams would trade points down the stretch as the Trailblazers were able to close out the set and take the match 25-18, extending their winning streak against Region 24 opponents to 26 matches.

“Our offense ran okay in the first set but we needed more of the serve receive and blocking,” VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. “When we had those two items in play, we were able to make big, big runs. In the first set, we went side out, side out and side out, we did not control the set at all. Lincoln Trail did. We did a great job of basically pulling it together in those three phases in sets two, three and four.”

The VU offensive attack Thursday night came from all angles as sophomore Paige Parlanti (Las Vegas, Nev.) led the way with a double-double with 13 kills, 18 digs, four blocks and one ace.

Freshman Laura Tavares (Merida, Venezuela) came through with 10 kills, seven digs and three blocks.

Sophomore Audrey Buis (Franklin, Ind.) and freshman Isadora Dias also had very effective hitting performances, with Buis finishing the night just shy of a double-double with nine kills, 11 digs, three blocks and a block assist. Dias ended with eight kills, three blocks and one dig.

Sophomore Maecy Johnson (Chrisman, Ill.) had a tremendous all-around performance, setting up the VU offense on her way to 33 set assists, while also contributing at the net with four blocks, three kills and three digs.

Freshman Allison Czyzewski (Louisville, Ill.) and sophomore Kennedy Sowell (Effingham, Ill.) rounded out the VU offense, each recording a kill, with Czyzewski adding four blocks and a dig, while Sowell came through with one block as well.

The Trailblazer back row defense was again patrolled by sophomore libero Morgan Netcott (Montague, Mich.) who led VU with 27 digs on the night, while also adding one set assist and one ace.

Freshmen Libby Mehringer (Jasper, Ind.) and Grace Flexter (Oblong, Ill.) also helped contribute to the victory, with Mehringer adding five set assists and two digs, while Flexter entered in the fourth set to record a dig.

The VU offense continues to work efficiently early in the season, finishing the night with a .405 hitting percentage, led by a .522 hitting percentage by Parlanti and a .474 percentage by Tavares.

The Trailblazers also controlled the net very well defensively on their way to 22 total blocks on the night.

“We controlled the first contact and that was when we were able to run the offense efficiently,” Sien added. “The sets were well distributed all along the net and each hitter had great swings for the majority of the time. In particular, Paige, Audrey and Laura swung very well.”

“When we pass or when we are in system, it is very difficult to stop us,” Sien said. “When given those passes on point, I thought Maecy did an excellent job of spreading the offense and giving a couple of good looks to each hitter in different tempos and different locations, including the back row.”

The Blazers will look to add a couple more to the win column this weekend when VU hosts Region 24 opponent Lake Land College and Ancilla College for a tri-match Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Physical Education Complex.

VU will begin the day by taking on Lake Land College at 10 a.m. eastern, before closing out the day against Ancilla College at 2 p.m. eastern Saturday.

“We talked about how it is a dogfight in every Region 24 game,” Sien added. “Unless you have been in a Region match, you will not fully understand the immense pressure that is out there. Winning a couple of championships will add even more responsibility and accountability as you are not only playing for the ones presently on the team, but for all those who came before you.”