Mattoon, Ill. – The Vincennes University Trailblazer volleyball team started the postseason with a bang, winning over John A. Logan 3-1 in the Region 24 Semifinals at Lake Land College.
The match started out with the teams trading side outs, with VU holding a narrow 6-5 advantage.
The Trailblazers then went on an impressive 15-4 scoring run to lead 21-9.
The Lady Vols responded by scoring the next seven points, but Vincennes was able to recover to take set one 25-17.
The two teams were again deadlocked in set two, with the score tied at nine-all.
Vincennes then scored five points unanswered before trading points with the Vols until VU came away with the 25-23 set win to take a 2-0 match lead.
The Trailblazers looked determined to complete the sweep in set three, jumping out to a 6-2 early lead.
John A. Logan took the lead midway through the set and built a 23-16 lead before VU launched a comeback attempt of their own, managing to cut the lead down to 24-23 but Logan took the set 25-23.
Set four was another back-and-forth battle with Vincennes holding a 14-9 lead.
Logan cut the deficit down to just a single point at 17-16 before the Trailblazers answered back to take the set and the match 25-20.
"This was just a great gutty, gritty game on our part," VUVB head coach Gary Sien said. "The match was won after the third set, even though we lost it. We had such a huge deficit at 16-23 and to come back and almost take it, that showed how tough they are."
The Trailblazer offense was led by Anna Johnsey and Jamie Russell, who finished with 11 kills each.
Johnsey added an ace, two digs, five block assists and a solo block. Russell finished with seven digs, four block assists and a solo block.
Amee Beedle finished with nine kills, 16 digs, one set assist and a block assist.
Grace Earp led the Trailblazer defense with 21 digs, as she helped Savannah Grimes set up the VU offense with Grimes finishing with 31 set assists.
Emile Cornelson ended her night with seven kills, four digs, four block assists and a solo block.
"This was a total team win," Sien added. "Credit goes to our two middle blockers Emile Cornelson and Anna Johnsey. Amee Beedle had a number of timely kills and Grace Earp dug up many big shots. Elizabeth Combs also did a great job in place of Breanna Metzger, who was out."
Vincennes now advances to the Region 24 Championship game Saturday, March 27 against Kaskaskia. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m. eastern.
VU handed the Blue Angels their only loss this season back on Feb. 12 when the Trailblazers swept KCC at the P.E. Complex.
"We are looking forward to the big match against Kaskaskia on Saturday," Sien said.
John A. Logan 17 23 25 20 x
Vincennes (15-9) 25 25 23 25 x
VINCENNES STATS
Kacee Nicholson – 2 points, 1 set assist, 2 aces, 6 digs
Savannah Grimes – 4 points, 2 kills, 31 set assists, 1 ace, 19 digs, 2 block assists
Amee Beedle – 9.5 points, 9 kills, 1 set assist, 16 digs, 1 block assist
Emile Cornelson – 10 points, 7 kills, 4 digs, 1 solo block, 4 block assists
Anna Johnsey – 15.5 points, 11 kills, 1 ace, 2 digs, 1 solo block, 5 block assists
Jamie Russell – 14 points, 11 kills, 7 digs, 1 solo block, 4 block assists
Grace Earp – 1 point, 2 set assists, 1 ace, 21 digs
Elizabeth Combs – 5.5 points, 3 kills, 1 ace, 7 digs, 3 block assists
Olga Vasovic – 2 digs