VUVB signs Effingham’s Kennedy Sowell to 2022 recruiting class

The 2021 Region 24 Champion Vincennes University volleyball team kicked off their 2022 recruiting class in a big way with the signing of Kennedy Sowell Friday afternoon.

Sowell is a six-foot tall middle blocker/opposite hitter who helped guide Effingham High School to a 14-22 record and the 2021 Charleston Tournament Championship last season.

Sowell finished her senior season with the Flaming Hearts with 157 kills, 34 digs, 33 blocks, 12 set assists and seven aces, earning her the 2021 Varsity Blocking Award as well as Edward Co. Invitational-All Tournament team and Third Team Effingham Daily News All-Area honors.

“Kennedy is a great player who is very versatile,” Effingham head coach Theresa Vogt said. “This past year, she learned to play a new position that she had never played before. She was a valuable asset because she could move to where the opponent’s best hitter was and shut them down. That also meant that she could hit from anywhere on the court and keep the other team on their toes.”

Sowell is the daughter of Wes and Michelle Sowell and is a four-year honor student at Effingham High School, who plans to major in nursing while at Vincennes University.

“We see Kennedy as someone who will be competing for playing time in the middle blocker position, as it will be wide open in the Fall,” VUVB head coach Gary Sien said. “She is consistent and fluid in hitting behind the setter off of one leg and she could see time on the right side as well.”

“We feel Kennedy possesses the physical components to be a consistent blocker and hitter for us,” Sien added. “We are always looking to sign athletic players like Kennedy and she comes from a strong area for volleyball that we have had quite a bit of success in recruiting there. We look forward to getting her in the gym to work on her hitting and blocking techniques and for her to learn our blocking and offensive systems.”

The Vincennes University Athletic Department welcome Kennedy Sowell to the 2022 recruiting class and wishes her well as she finishes her senior year this spring.