Trailblazers add second Val/Sal recipient in Allie Robinson

VINCENNES, Ind. – The four-time defending Region 24 Champion Vincennes University volleyball program picked up another big addition to their 2025 recruiting class this week with the addition of five-foot eight defensive specialist Allie Robinson.

"It may sound like a broken record at this point, but here's another student who approached us about our program," VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. "She is a good friend of Scarlet Konkel. They have played club together for a number of years. She found out that Scarlet was coming here and was looking at our programs here academically and was able to find a match."

Robinson comes to VU after finishing her high school career at Trico High School in Illinois, where she helped guide the Pioneers to a 33-4 record this past season, finishing with a Regional Championship.

In Robinson's three seasons with the Pioneer Varsity team, Trico High School had a combined record of 100-15, setting the school record for wins in a season as a sophomore with 37, winning the first Class 1A Sectional Championship in school history and reaching the Elite Eight of the IHSA tournament, while also holding a combined 36-0 record in Black Diamond West Conference play.

Robinson played in all 37 matches this past season, recording 274 digs, 55 aces and 16 kills in 82 sets played.

Robinson was twice named to the Black Diamond West All-Conference team, including being Conference MVP this past season, as well as twice being named to the Southern Illinois Coaches Association (SICA) All-South team.

Robinson was also named to several All-Tournament teams this past season, including the Sparta Individual, Red Bud and New Athens tournament and being named MVP of the Trico tournament.

Robinson is also very active in extra curriculars at Trico High School, including being an Illinois State Scholar and member of the Southern Illinois Society for High School Achievement (SISHSA).

Robinson will graduate as Valedictorian of her graduating class and is the second Val/Sal Scholarship recipient in the 2025 VUVB recruiting class, joining her Southern Illinois Wave club teammate Scarlet Konkel.

Robinson is the daughter of David and Laurie Robinson and plans to major in Diagnostic Medical Sonography at Vincennes University.

"For Allie, coming to college might feel like a break for her," Sien added. "She's someone who has been involved in a number of things over the years, which is very impressive. She's a member of Student Council, National Honor Society, she's in the performing arts, band, Academic Challenge team and she also has an acting role in her school play."

"Allie comes from a pretty competitive high school volleyball conference in Illinois and she was named the Conference Most Valuable Player as a libero," Sien added. "It's just so rare for that to happen. Her team had a great year and she was a key to that. As I have expressed in the past, yes you are going to see the big time hits, but you won't get those big time hits without the first ball being right up to the net for the setter. The passing has to be on point. You will not have a great offense if your ball control is not consistent. If teams cannot pass, they will be very average, even if they have big hitters."

"Allie has played this position for a number of years now," Sien said. "She also has some experience hitting. That adds something for us in case we might be in a position where we need her to hit. Again, it all goes back to the idea of recruiting for multiple positions. We can't always do that 100 percent, but we try to do that as often as we can."

"Grace Bartimus (Earp) is a great example of this," Sien added. "We knew that she could hit but we also saw that she could ball control just as well, if not better, or at least potentially could. I don't know who all everyone else in Region has coming in next season, but I feel like we have a couple of the best back row players coming in in Allie and Adaline Eisenmann, who also has hitting experience."

"Allie is a good student, very responsible and has a very impressive resume non-athletic wise," Sien said. "The things that she is involved in show you what a true student-athlete is. She's someone who is very active in her high school and her community as well as her studies and volleyball. She's someone who has all those areas covered, I think that's pretty impressive. All of our incoming freshmen this year has that, where the non-volleyball part also impresses you. To be able to say that is great because that means they have balance in their lives so that you should be able to really work well with them."

"Allie has been a game changer for our program but on and off the court," Robinson's High School Coach Julie Rathert said. "Her work ethic, leadership and love for the game make her an incredible player and I have no doubt she will do great things at Vincennes University. They are getting not only a talented athlete but also a great teammate and leader."

"Allie has recorded over 700 digs in her high school career and played a huge role in her team's success, helping them reach the Elite Eight, Sweet 16 and win a Regional Championship," Rathert added. "She leads by example and makes everyone around her better, including her coaches."

The Vincennes University Athletic Department is excited to welcome Allie Robinson to the 2025 Trailblazer recruiting class.