Trailblazers Sweep Day One of Showdown on the Wabash

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Women's Volleyball team, currently receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Division I National Poll, continued its strong form Friday with two wins on the opening day of the Showdown on the Wabash at the VU Physical Education Complex. The Trailblazers swept both Edison State Community College (Ohio) and Calhoun Community College (Ala.), improving their season record to 21–2.

Game 1: Fast Start Fuels Sweep of Edison State

VU opened the day with a decisive 3–0 victory (25–13, 25–16, 25–23) over Edison State, one of the top NJCAA Division II programs in Ohio. The Trailblazers rolled through the first two sets before closing out a intensely competitive third frame.

Sophomore Nicole De La Cruz led the charge with an all-around performance — 8 kills, 6 aces, and 2 blocks, while hitting .368. Freshman Taryn Thuis continued her recent run of efficiency with 10 kills on a .474 hitting percentage and added 4 total blocks. Paulina Krawczyk also delivered a strong showing with 6 kills on a .556 hitting clip and contributed 2 total blocks, while Martyna Sadowska added 6 kills and 3 block assists to round out a balanced attack. Rylee Edwards distributed 19 assists and served 3 aces, while Adaline Eisenmann anchored the back row with 18 digs.

Head Coach Gary Sien credited his team's sharp execution to a well-timed break in the schedule. "We'd had a heavy stretch before this week," Sien said. "That long break gave us time to reset and finally get four straight days of practice. We came out sharp and executed our offense early."

Game 2: Statement Win Over No. 22 Calhoun

In the nightcap, Vincennes returned to the court to defeat NJCAA DII No. 22 Calhoun Community College in straight sets, 26–24, 25–17, 27–25, marking another victory over a nationally ranked opponent.

"Calhoun's a really athletic team with a lot of firepower," Sien said. "We made adjustments with our blocking and forced them to hit around us. I'm sure a lot of teams don't see a block as big as ours—it's like putting a detour sign up front."

Paulina Krawczyk had a breakout match on the outside with 12 kills, while Taryn Thuis and Kenli Sullivan each added 8 kills. Thuis again stuffed the net with 8 total blocks, and Edwards directed the attack with 28 assists and added 10 digs in the team's 5-1 offensive setup. Adaline Eisenmann once again led the defensive effort with 14 digs, while Sullivan contributed 10 digs to complete a solid two-way performance.

Sien also praised Krawczyk's continued improvement in her new role. "Paulina's a converted middle now playing outside, and she's really adjusting well," Sien said. "We needed someone long and athletic out there, and she's learning quickly. She gave us a big lift tonight."

What's Next

The Trailblazers will return to the court on Saturday, October 4, to wrap up play in the Showdown on the Wabash. The Trailblazers will face Lewis and Clark Community College at 10:00 a.m. and St. Louis Community College at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday as they look to close out the weekend strong and extend their strong play at home.

Hear more from sophomore Rylee Edwards on her team's play today by clicking here.

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