VINCENNES, Ind – The Vincennes University volleyball team has had an impressive start to their 2021 spring season, winning their first five Region 24 matches with the 3-1 win over Lake Land College Friday night.
The previous matchup between these two teams produced a five-set thriller in Mattoon in early February and early on, it looked like we were headed or another lengthy back-and-forth battle.
VU fought for every point, holding a 15-9 lead before Lake Land tried to mount a comeback.
The Lakers ran out of time however as Vincennes took set one 25-22.
The Trailblazers carried their momentum of winning the first set into set two, jumping out to a 10-2 lead before Lake Land responded to score the next six points unanswered.
The Lakers were not able to continue this run however as Vincennes took set two 25-14.
Set three was more of the back-and-forth battle we expected to see, with each team fighting for positioning and feeling like every point was earned.
Lake Land took set three 25-23 to avoid the sweep and push a fourth set.
Set four picked up right where set three ended, with VU able to hold a small 10-6 lead early.
The Trailblazers would go on a big scoring run to expand their lead to 18-8 and were able to hold on to take set four and the match 25-13.
"We executed pretty well, it always goes back to the first contact on a serve receive or on defense," VUVB head coach Gary Sien said. "We have an exceptional offense and that includes people off the bench like Allyson Kuhl. For her to step in and play as well as she did and Elizabeth Combs came in for a little bit, but I've said before I don't think anyone else in the Region has that quality of player off the bench."
"I think in the third set we made a lot of mistakes, a lot of errors. We didn't pass as well which made things worse because Savannah wasn't able to set the ball. We put a lot on her when we don't pass, she's basically running a marathon if we don't pass. But when we're on, like in the other three sets, it's really hard to stop us."
VU was led offensively by setter Savannah Grimes, who set a new career-high with 42 set assists, as well as a massive 30 digs. Grimes also finished with one kill, one solo block and a block assist.
Breanna Metzger was a frequent target of Grimes' sets as Metzger led the Blazers with 18 kills. Breanna also had two block assists and nine digs defensively.
Anna Johnsey would reach double-figure kills as well, ending her night with 12 kills, one solo block, three block assists and four digs.
Amee Beedle and Jamie Russell each finished with nine kills, with Beedle adding 12 digs and Russell finishing with six block assists.
Allyson Kuhl came off the bench to help the Trailblazers defense, finishing with a team-high seven block assists and three kills.
"Savannah really has a hold on our offense, for her to get 42 set assists, that means our offense was really on. Overall, our defense was exceptional. We always say we want to put a big block on those cross hits and hit it to Grace Earp and she had a really nice match. Her and Savannah having as many digs as they did means that our blocking was right there tonight to funnel those hits cross court. It's all connected, having a disciplined block funnel the ball cross court and then having exceptional back row players to pick them all up."
Vincennes will take to the floor again Saturday, March 6, when the Trailblazers play host to Region 24 opponent Shawnee at 12 p.m. eastern.
"We coach our players to play everyone like they're the world champions and not to disrespect someone. We're just going to go out there and be competitive. We want to treat this team like we did Lake Land, so if we play like we did tonight, it should be a great match and a fast one. The goal is to have very few mistakes and have the same urgency we would have with every other team that we play."
"Sometimes these games are tough. Games against teams like this we stress more because we know we're going to be up for the Lake Lands or the Parklands but we have to have that same mentality against a team like Shawnee. They're a Region team, it's not like we're playing a scrimmage, we're playing a real game and a game that is going to count in the standings. To me every game is big, so we don't treat a game less than it should be."
Lake Land 22 14 25 13 x
VU (10-6) 25 25 23 25 x
VINCENNES STATS
Kacee Nicholson – 2 digs
Savannah Grimes – 2.5 points, 1 kill, 1 solo block, 1 block assist, 30 digs, 42 set assists
Amee Beedle – 12 points, 2 aces, 9 kills, 2 block assists, 12 digs
Emile Cornelson – 1 point, 1 kill
Anna Johnsey – 14.5 points, 12 kills, 1 solo block, 3 block assists, 4 digs, 3 set assists
Breanna Metzger – 19 points, 18 kills, 2 block assists, 9 digs
Allyson Kuhl – 6.5 points, 3 kills, 7 block assists
Jamie Russell – 12 points, 9 kills, 6 block assists, 6 digs
Grace Earp – 26 digs, 3 set assists
Olga Vasovic – 7 digs
