Trailblazers Sweep Kaskaskia, Clinch Region 24 Title

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Women's Volleyball team closed out the 2025 regular season in championship fashion Monday night, sweeping Kaskaskia College 3–0 (25–22, 25–14, 25–23) inside the P.E. Complex to clinch the NJCAA Region 24 Regular Season Championship and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Region 24 Tournament. The win lifted VU to 28–8 overall and 15–3 in Region 24 play, with the Trailblazers clinching the top spot following their victory over Kaskaskia and John A. Logan College's loss Monday night at Lake Land College.

Head Coach Gary Sien, now in his 10th season leading the program, praised his team's response and execution in a match that carried major postseason implications. "This was a great way to finish the regular season," Sien said. "The team was very focused tonight. We blocked well, served tough, and ran the offense efficiently. To get that No. 1 seed back heading into the region tournament feels like new life for us, and the players were really excited about that."

VU's attack was sharp from the opening serve, hitting .283 as a team while limiting Kaskaskia to just .056. Sophomore Martyna Sadowska continued her outstanding late-season form, leading the Trailblazers with 11 kills, 6 total blocks, and 14.5 total points, while freshman Taryn Thuis added 12 kills, 5 block assists, and 14.5 points. Freshman Nicole De La Cruz, returning from a brief injury absence, contributed 7 kills and 6 total blocks in a strong all-around performance.

Sien said Sadowska's recent play has been pivotal to VU's late-season surge. "Martyna's been really, really good these past few matches," he said. "She's been our spark plug in the front row. Taryn also had another solid night both hitting and blocking, and Nicole gave us great energy after being out a couple matches."

Freshman Kenli Sullivan chipped in 8 kills, 13 digs, and 10.5 total points, while sophomore Rylee Edwards distributed 20 assists and served 3 aces, along with 5 digs. Freshman Adaline Eisenmann added 12 digs and three aces, continuing her strong back-row presence. Freshman Scarlet Konkel tallied 11 assists, and freshman Lili Palenczat was efficient in limited swings, hitting .462 with six kills.

Sien also pointed to his team's back-row defense and serve pressure as key components in controlling Kaskaskia's offense. "Our defense was exceptional," Sien said. "Our middle backs — Allie and Kenli — did a great job reading and digging line shots, which is something we specifically challenged them on. We served aggressive but smart, with only one error and eight aces, and that kept Kaskaskia off balance all night."

The Trailblazers now turn their attention to the Region 24 Tournament, hosted by Lake Land College on November 1–2. VU enters as the No. 1 overall seed, with its first opponent to be determined later in the week once the remaining regular-season matches are completed. "We're excited for the postseason," Sien said. "It's been a long season with a lot of growth, and I'm proud of how this group has handled everything. To end the regular season as champions and the No. 1 seed is exactly where we wanted to be."

Hear more from Coach Sien 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