BLINN VOLLEYBALL TO OPEN DELAYED SEASON, TUESDAY

Buccaneers return four, including Region XIV Freshman of the Year  

Blinn College volleyball coach Terry Gamble will rely on leadership and work ethic during the Buccaneers’ 2021 campaign.

With four returners, including the Region XIV Freshman of the Year, and two transfers, the Buccaneers have potential to be one of the best teams in the region.

“We have a great group of hard-working individuals who have a ton of potential,” Gamble said. “We are extremely young, but we are big, physical, and have a lot of talent in the gym. I really think we are going to be a fun team to watch.”

The Buccaneers posted a 29-8 record and entered the regional tournament ranked 19th in the nation.

Middle blocker and outside hitter Essence Clerkley (Palestine) returns after being named the region’s freshman of the year. She led the Buccaneers in total blocks (107) and block assists (87). She was second on the team with 373 kills and had a .401 hitting percentage. In November, she signed with Marshall University.

“Clerkley is a big part of our team,” Gamble said. “She leads by example and is teaching the freshmen.”

Defensive specialist Brooke Borden (Cypress) also returns. Last season, she played 30 matches and 72 sets. She was fifth on the team with 18 aces.

“Borden is one of our leaders and captains,” Gamble said. “She is a team player first and she is going to have a chance to contribute a lot to us.”

Defensive specialist and outside hitter Tatum Smidovec (Brenham) and setter Julia Benfield (Brenham) both return. Smidovec played 33 matches and 91 sets. She was fifth on the team with 156 digs.

Smidovec and Benfield are both the ultimate team players,” Gamble said. “They both played at Brenham High School where they were successful. They play a positive role in helping our team.”

Setter and Florida State University transfer Loren Scott (Tallahassee, Fla.) and Lee College transfer Jessica Hardin (La Porte) will contribute for the Buccaneers this year.

Scott was a four-year starter at Lincoln High School, where she played in 321 career sets with 453 kills, 192 blocks, 191 aces, 822 digs, and 3,522 assists (11.0 per set). She led the state of Florida with 1,149 assists to set a school record in 2017. Scott was named to the PrepVolleyball Top 50 Recruit Watch List in 2017 and named to the PrepVolleyball Top 150 Seniors of the Class of 2019 list.

“She is a six-foot, left-handed setter who makes us better every time she steps on the court,” Gamble said. “She is a great kid with a great attitude, and a huge addition to our program. She is going to become one of our big leaders and I think our players are really going to play hard for her as our setter.”

Hardin, an outside hitter, played 14 matches and 48 sets for Lee in 2019. She recorded 123 kills and tallied 45 digs.

“Hardin is another one with a great attitude and I see her being a big contributor,” Gamble said.

Ten freshmen join the team this year, including defensive specialists Emily Smajstrla (Pearland), Ashley Acuna (San Antonio), and Lixai Perez Velez (Bayamon, Puerto Rico).

Smajstrla was named the Defensive Player of the Year at Pearland High School, Acuna surpassed 1,000 career digs (2017-19) and was named the team MVP at Smithson Valley High School, and Perez Velez played at Academia Discipulos de Cristo High School and won a championship in Copa  Nuevo Dia.

“With the additions of Smajstrla, Acuna, and Perez Velez our defensive positions are solid for the next two years,” Gamble said. “They have really helped our ball control and defense, and are playing at a high level.”

Outside hitters Kyndal Coufal (Burton) and Jayde Shelton (San Diego, Calif.), along with middle and right side hitter Megan Rek (Palestine) will help the offense, while Megan Kessler (Sweeny) and Chard’e Vanzandt (Crosby) will play both outside hitter and middle blocker positions.

Coufal earned all-state honors at Burton High School and was named the district MVP. Shelton broke five school records and helped lead Paloma High School to California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) finals twice. Rek received all-district honors at El Campo High School; Kessler earned district and team MVP awards at Sweeny High School; and Vanzandt played volleyball, basketball, and ran track at Crosby High School.

“Coufal is going to play a role for us both offensively and defensively, and Shelton is a six-foot left-hander who fans are going to like,” Gamble said. “Rek is six-foot-four and has been injured so we don’t know what to expect yet. Kessler is six-foot tall and a physical athlete, and Vanzandt is extremely athletic and can play multiple positions.”

Setter Savannah Sebek (Troy) and middle blocker Ashley Taylor (Yoakum) also join the Buccaneers.

“Sebek is getting better every day as a setter and Taylor is a physical athlete and with more experience is going to become really good,” Gamble said.

Sebek was named the district’s MVP at Troy High School and Taylor was named the district’s co-MVP and offensive player of the year at Yoakum High School.

“Our freshman class is very athletic and talented,” Gamble said. “I am excited to watch them grow, learn and get better because they are great athletes and great kids.”

The Buccaneers are set to start the season against Temple College on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 6 p.m. in the Kruse Center. For all athletic event guidelines and links to purchase tickets, please visit www.buccaneersports.com/fan_zone/Tickets_and_Covid-19_Guidelines.

“We have a chance to be really good,” Gamble said. “We are really excited for this season.”

For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.

(COURTESY: Tara Dreyer, Blinn Information)