BUCS SWEEP AT TYLER INVITE
The third-ranked Blinn College volleyball team tallied its 23rd season victory Friday with a 3-0 sweep of both opponents at the Tyler College Invite.
The Buccaneers swept the College of Central Florida 25-21, 25-23, 25-12 behind 12 kills and three blocks from Tawnee Luafalemana and 33 assists from Jordyn Keamo.
Trinity Alualu added 10 kills and seven digs, Abolanle Onipede added seven kills and Rebecca Reeve added 6 kills.
The Bucs returned to action later Friday with a 3-0 sweep of eighth-ranked Cowley Community College 25-15, 25-13, 25-17. The defeat was led by Rebecca Reeve with 13 kills and Alyssa LaMont with 15 digs.
Freshman Paloma Da Silva turned heads with nine kills, nine digs and a .500 hitting percentage.
“I am really proud of the way she played,” coach Erin Mellinger said of Da Silva. “This was a breaking out for her.”
Onipede continued to boost the Bucs’ lead with nine kills, 14 assists and no errors, finishing with a .642 hitting percentage.
Luafalemana added five block-assists and Keamo finished with 29 assists. Justus Tuiolosega added 13 assists.
“We had a lot of players in the game and they all meshed well and did a great job,” Mellinger said. “I’m proud of the way they played tonight.”
The Buccaneers will conclude Tyler College Invite tournament play Saturday with an 11 a.m. match against Western Nebraska Community College and a 2 p.m. match against Western Texas College.
For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com
(Courtesy: Brooke Conrad, Binn Information)