BUCS SNAP LOSING SKID — DROP TEMPLE

Buccaneers fall to Tyler in a five-set thriller to close the day

BRENHAM, Texas – Blinn College volleyball was able to snap a seven-match losing streak after beating Temple College 3-1 but then fell in the second game of the day 3-2 to Tyler Junior College to get the split of games in the Applebee’s Classic Friday inside the P.E. Building.

With the split, Blinn’s overall record moves to 14-15 while the Region XIV record stays at 4-2.

Blinn 3 – Temple 1

Blinn was able to recover from dropping the opening set to beat Temple 3-1 by the score 22-25, 25-19, 26-24 and 25-18.

Paola Marie Salas Adorno led Blinn with 22 kills behind a .300 hitting percentage and led with 14 digs. Alexis Kingston added 10 kills and eight digs. Danusia Sipa Borgeaud added 13 digs while Ally Lanik earned 45 assists and 10 digs.

The first set stayed tight the entire time as neither Blinn or Temple would gain momentum early on. Temple was able to take a 19-16 lead on a Blinn error and the Buccaneers couldn’t get much closer as Temple took the first 25-22.

The second set started out much better for Blinn as the Buccaneers jumped out to a 7-2 lead after a kill from Adorno. Blinn maintain its momentum and won the second 25-18 after back-to-back Temple mistakes and knot the match at 1-1 in sets.

Blinn created a little distance in the third set by taking a 15-10 lead after a couple of Temple mistakes. With Blinn holding on to a 19-16 lead, Temple ripped off seven straight points to take a 23-19 lead. Being two points away from falling behind 2-1 in sets, the Buccaneers scored five straight capped by two consecutive kills from Adorno for a 24-23 lead. Blinn would secure the final two points of the set to take a 2-1 lead in sets with a 26-24 victory.

Not wanting to see the fifth set, Blinn shot out to a 11-4 lead after a kill from Kayla Valigura. Temple roared back to tie the set at 13-13, but then Blinn scored five straight capped by a block from Kingston for an 18-13 lead. The Buccaneers maintained that momentum for a 25-18 set win and clinch the match in four sets.

Tyler 3 – Blinn 2

Blinn had everything going right to win the first two sets but then Tyler rebounded to claim the final three sets to win 3-2 in the five-set thriller.

Tyler won by the score 17-25, 30-32, 27-25, 25-22 and 15-10 to hand Blinn the loss.

Adorno led Blinn with 22 kills and added 12 digs while Kingston added 11 kills. Borgeaud led the Buccaneers with 15 digs and Lanik dished out 57 assists.

Blinn got off to a fast start with a 7-2 lead after a kill from Amina Olajuwon. Tyler crawled slightly closer in the set but Blinn was able to close out the first with a kill from Adorno for a 25-17 victory.

The second set was more of a marathon as it took extra points but a late kill from Adorno and a Temple error gave Blinn a 2-0 lead in sets with a 32-30 victory.

Blinn had its chances to close out Tyler in the third set as the Buccaneers led 20-17 after a kill from Adorno. Tyler eventually tied the set at 23-23 and was later able to force a fourth set with a 27-25 victory.

Blinn fell behind Tyler halfway through the fourth set and trailed 15-11 but later was able to tie the set at 18-18 after a Tyler mistake. Tyler was able to force a fifth set with a 25-22 victory in the fourth.

Blinn never gained any momentum in the fifth set as Tyler jumped out to a 7-2 lead and held on for a 15-10 victory in the fifth.

Blinn will close out the Applebee’s Classic with a match against Iowa Western Community College on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m.

For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.

(Story courtesy, Jake Gordon, Binn Information)