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Vincennes University

Trailblazers Fall in Straight Sets at Lake Land

Trailblazers Fall in Straight Sets at Lake Land
Box Score
October 17, 2025

MATTOON, Ill. – The Vincennes University Women's Volleyball team fell in straight sets on the road Friday night at Lake Land College, 25–22, 25–20, 25–21, in a competitive Region 24 matchup. The loss moves the Trailblazers to 24–8 overall but they remain in second place in the region, a half-game ahead of Lake Land College but trailing league-leading John A. Logan College.

VU welcomed back standout freshman Kenli Sullivan to the lineup after missing several matches due to injury, and her presence helped stabilize the front line. Sullivan led the Trailblazers with 7 kills, 9 digs, and 8.5 total points, while Taryn Thuis added 7 kills, 3 block assists, and 8.5 points. Paulina Krawczyk chipped in 6 kills, and Martyna Sadowska tallied 3 kills and 3.5 total points. Scarlet Konkel contributed 3 kills, 7 assists, and 4.5 points, while Rylee Edwards directed the offense with 14 assists and 7 digs. Adaline Eisenmann anchored the back row with 20 digs.

Head Coach Gary Sien said that while the Trailblazers competed hard and showed improvement in blocking, offensive struggles proved to be the difference. "The good news is that we got Kenli back in the lineup, and our blocking overall was pretty solid," Sien said. "That's always one of the most difficult skills to maintain, and we hadn't blocked very well during the losing streak, so this was a step forward. We got a lot of good touches at the net and were able to transition from defense to offense more effectively."

Despite losing in three close sets, Sien said the team's hitting inefficiency limited their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities. "We probably had our toughest night of the season offensively," he said. "We had almost 140 swings and less than 30 kills. That's not going to win you many matches. We had good swings most of the night, but too many of them didn't find the floor. Even then, every set was close — we were just playing from behind too often."

The tenth-year head coach noted that defensive lapses in key moments and inconsistent passing kept VU from turning the match in their favor. "There were probably 15 or so dig opportunities that we didn't convert," Sien said. "If we make even half of those, we might be talking about a different outcome. The block can only take so much of the court, so our defense has to play around it and make those plays. Our serve-receive wasn't bad, but we didn't pass well enough to run the middle, and that really limited our offense."

Despite the loss, Sien remains confident in his team's ability to rebound with postseason play approaching. "We're still right there in the Region 24 race," he said. "We've got four region matches left, and if we finish strong, we'll be in a good spot heading into the tournament. This group has battled through a tough stretch, and I believe we'll get back to playing at the level we're capable of."

The Trailblazers continue Region 24 play on Monday, October 20, at 7 p.m. EDT when they travel to face Wabash Valley College in Mount Carmel, Illinois.

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