#18 BUC VOLLEYBALL DEFEATS TRINITY VALLEY IN CONFERENCE OPENER
Lixai Perez Velez tallies season-high 25 digs
ATHENS, Texas — The No. 18 Blinn College volleyball team opened conference play with a win over Trinity Valley Community College on the road, 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-20).
With the win, the Buccaneers remain undefeated with a 7-0 overall record and 1-0 conference record.
“It was a nice win on the road against a good volleyball team that is very well-coached,” head coach Terry Gamble said. “I thought we played really good at times and thought we played fairly confused at times. I thought Emily Smajstrla came in and did a really nice job for us tonight, and that Lixai Perez Velez had one of her best games of the season.”
Jayde Shelton led the Buccaneer offense with 14 kills and had four blocks in the match. Kyndal Coufal was next on offense with nine kills, while Essence Clerkley tallied eight kills and four blocks.
Loren Scott led Blinn with 36 assists, and Perez Velez led with a season-high 25 digs.
Trinity Valley defeated Blinn, 25-20, to open the match with a 1-0 lead. The Buccaneers came back to win the next three sets, starting with a 25-20 victory in the second set.
The Buccaneers pulled ahead 2-1 in the match when they beat Trinity Valley, 25-15, in the third set. Both teams played a strong fourth set, but Blinn was able to walk away with a 25-20 victory.Next, the Buccaneers will return to the Kruse Center to compete against No. 3 Navarro College on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 41 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.