Trailblazers Sweep Logan in Clash of Region 24 Leaders
CARTERVILLE, Ill. – In a matchup of the top two teams in NJCAA Region 24, the Vincennes University Volleyball team left no doubt Wednesday night, sweeping John A. Logan College 27-25, 25-22, 25-20 on the road. The victory keeps the Trailblazers in sole possession of first place in Region 24 and pushes their record to 14-1 overall, 8-0 in region play. VU is also receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Top 20 national poll.
Facing heavy defensive attention on outside hitter Kenli Sullivan, the Trailblazers spread the offense and got key contributions across the board. Sullivan still managed a team-high 10 kills to go with three aces and six digs. Nicole De La Cruz added nine kills, four aces, and six digs, while Taryn Thuis posted an efficient eight kills on a .533 hitting percentage and chipped in three blocks. VU also controlled the net defensively, with Karen Kodi recording four total blocks. In the back row, Adaline Eisenmann led all players with 15 digs.
Head Coach Gary Sien praised his team's ability to step up in the spotlight, saying, "We definitely played at a very high level and responded to just about every run John A. Logan made. They put a lot of focus on Kenli, so other players had to step in, and they did just that. Taryn and Nicole were very strong at the net, and Karen gave us key blocks. Adaline anchored our defense, and even the smaller plays—like Lily Palenczat's kill in a tight first set or Jordan Netcott's digs—made the difference in a close match. For such a young group, this was a big night."
VU held John A. Logan to just .230 hitting on the night, including a .075 mark in the opening set. The Blazers erased a late deficit in the first before claiming the marathon frame 27-25, then held firm in the final two sets to complete the sweep. "This was a big night for us," Sien added. "Nobody expected this young group to be here after we graduated so many, but they're proving what they can do."
The Trailblazers now turn their focus to the Wallace State Community College Fall Bash, where they will face four opponents across two days of play. VU opens Friday, September 19 against Walters State Community College, ranked No. 23 in the latest NJCAA Division II volleyball poll, at 5:00 p.m. EDT, followed by a matchup with host Wallace State Community College-Hanceville, which is receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division II rankings, at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, September 20, the Trailblazers return to action against Itawamba Community College at 10:00 a.m. and close the event at noon against Bevill State Community College. All matches will be played at the Omniplex in Cullman, Alabama.
Join the Journey
As always, fans can keep up with the Vincennes University Volleyball squad all year long through a number of ways:
- X (formerly Twitter): @VUTrailblazers
- Facebook: Vincennes University Athletics
- Instagram: @VincennesUTrailblazers
- Youtube (live & on demand content): BlazerVision
- Website: https://govutrailblazers.com
