BUCS DOWN EASTERN ARIZONA & TYLER IN APPLEBEE’S CLASSIC

Blinn came from behind after trailing Tyler 2-1 in sets

BRENHAM, Texas – Improved communication and teamwork added in with a strong home court advantage lifted Blinn College volleyball to a pair of victories over Eastern Arizona College and Tyler Junior College to open the 2015 Applebee’s Classic at the PE Building in Brenham.

The Buccaneers started off the tournament with a 3-0 sweep of Eastern Arizona by the score of 27-25, 25-23 and 25-15 then pulled a come from behind 3-2 victory over Tyler by the score 26-24, 23-25, 23-25, 25-20 and 15-13. With the pair of victories, Blinn’s record now improves to 4-3.

“That is when playing tough matches the opening weekend pays off when you win tough matches in the second weekend,” said head coach Kalie Mader. “That is the third time we have been put in a situation of playing a top-10 team and we put ourselves into a good position to win.”

The first match against Eastern Arizona was extremely close in the first two sets. Eastern Arizona was two points away from winning the first set clinging to a 23-20 lead but that is when Blinn clawed its way back with five straight points capped by a block from Eboni Mitchell for a 25-24 lead. Mitchell capped off the first set with another block to give the Buccaneers the first set 27-25.

There was little separation in the second set but Blinn was able to come out on top with late kills from Abolanle Onipede and Mitchell to claim a 2-0 lead after winning the second set 25-23. There was a little more breathing room in the third set as Alexis Kingston and Danusia Borgeaud started a four-point streak to give the Buccaneers an 18-10 lead. From there, Blinn was able to coast to a 25-15 victory in the third for the sweep.

“I think we just worked more as a team in the third set and communicated better,” Jordyn Keamo said after the game. “The third set has caused us problems in earlier matches.”

Nobody reached double digits in kills with Onipede earning eight with a .438 hitting percentage. Haley Howard and Mitchell each had six kills. Dana Teets led with 13 digs while Keamo picked up 12 digs and 27 assists in the win. Blinn had 11 aces as a team and Borgeaud led with four.

The second match against Tyler was much more of a dogfight as Blinn dropped the third set to go down 2-1 but was able to show enough grit to come from behind for a 3-2 victory. Mitchell had a big match against Tyler with 17 kills and a .351 hitting percentage while Borgeaud had 12 kills and 12 digs.

Keamo had 47 assists, 14 digs and four aces in the win. Teets finished with 28 digs while Barbara Krug earned 12 digs.

Blinn was one point away from losing the first set as Tyler held a 24-23 lead but Howard tied it with a kill and two points later Kingston finished off the set with a kill and a 26-24 victory. Tyler won the second and third sets by two points on each one to grab a 2-1 lead in sets.

With their backs up against the wall, the Buccaneers were able to fight back with a strong fourth set that the home team grabbed a 15-8 lead after a kill by Onipede. Tyler came back to tie the set at 20-20 but Blinn scored the following five points from the serve of Krug and Borgeaud finished off the 25-20 victory with a block.

Tyler scored the first four points in the fifth set but Blinn was still able to come back. Trailing 13-12, the Buccaneers scored three consecutive points as Teets sealed the victory with an ace for the 15-13 victory.

Blinn will be back in action Aug. 29 with two more matches at home. Blinn opens up the day against New Mexico Military Institute at 3 p.m. and then finish the tournament against Temple College at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit: www.buccaneersports.com.

(Story and photos courtesy: Jake Gordon, Blinn Information)