VINCENNES, Ind. – The three-time defending Region 24 Champion Vincennes University volleyball team added some more size and front row presence with the signing of six-foot tall middle blocker Martyna Sadowska from Poland.
Sadowska comes to VU from the same organization as Blazer alums Jagoda Szybinska and Gosia Banasiak.
“We need to recruit at least one middle blocker,” VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. “The thing about Martyna is that she is very versatile. I always say that most of the international players are very well rounded and they have those first contact skills that most players from the United States don’t have as consistently.”
“In the semi finals of the Third League championships for her club team, SPS BoxPro Volley Pila, their right side got hurt and Martyna stepped in and played the right side from the second set of the semi final through the Championship game the next day and her team won and she was named tournament MVP,” Sien added. “Right side is not her typical position, but because she is so versatile, she played so well in that new role. The team did very well despite needing to fill two positions at the last minute.”
“We recruit athletes that we feel have the potential to block and I cannot over emphasize that enough at this level,” Sien said. “When you are potentially going against Division I level hitters, you need Division I level blocking, or at least Division I potential that you can train to block. We liked Martyna because of her offense and her potential and ability on defense as well.”
Sadowska comes to VU after a very productive career in Poland, where she won the Championship of the 3rd Women’s League in Greater Poland for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, participated in a quarter final of the Polish Junior Championships and took fifth place in the Junior competition in 2024.
Sadowska also guided her team to a second place finish in the 2023-24 open season, winning MVP of the Best Closed Season.
Sadowska’s team earned a spot in the Third League final in March of 2024, where she earned tournament MVP honors.
Martyna is the daughter of Krzysztof and Ewa Sadowska and plans to major in Psychology at Vincennes University.
“We need to replace a middle blocker for next year,” Sien said. “But we also have the ability to play Martyna on the right side, we can switch some people around on the front row. Martyna being able to play both positions gives us a lot of options. I also typically say that we don’t know anything until we hit the gym. At this level, you have a whole new team every year. But there is nothing for sure at this level.”
The Vincennes University Athletic Department is excited to welcome Martyna Sadowska to the 2024 Trailblazer recruiting class.
