#13 BUC VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS WHARTON

BRENHAM, Texas — The No. 13 Blinn College volleyball team swept Wharton County Junior College, 3-0 (25-10, 25-11, and 25-11), Monday night in the Kruse Center to stay undefeated.

With the win, the Buccaneers improved their overall record to 8-0 and conference record to 2-0.

“I thought we played really well and that our serving game and serve receive game both were extremely good tonight,” head coach Terry Gamble said. “We passed the ball well and served really well in the zones, so I think that helped us tonight. I am really happy after being out for so long with how well we played.”

Essence Clerkley and Chard’e Vanzandt led Blinn’s offense with 11 kills apiece. Clerkley also led with a .733 hitting percentage. Lixai Perez Velez led Blinn with five aces and had nine digs. Loren Scott led with 33 assists and served three aces. Emily Smajstrla led the Buccaneers with 11 digs, while Kyndal Coufal had 10 digs and eight kills in the match, and Jayde Shelton had eight kills and one block.

“We were really hitting our zones tonight serving wise, our ball control was really good, and we worked a lot on blocking this week, so that showed in this game,” said Tatum Smidovec, who had four digs and one ace in the match. “It is always great playing in the Kruse Center because the fans and atmosphere are great. We are really focused and ready to learn every day in the gym, so that adds to the excitement this season.”

The Buccaneers took off with an early lead and a 3-0 run that included a kill by Shelton and ace by Scott put them on top 14-6 in the first set. Clerkley led Blinn on a 4-0 run with two kills for the Buccaneers to lead 22-9. Three Wharton errors allowed Blinn to claim the first set, 25-10.

Blinn and Wharton started the second set tied 4-4, but the Buccaneers used a 5-1 run that included an ace and two kills to separate for good. Scott served back-to-back aces for Blinn to lead 17-8. Then, the Buccaneers went on a 5-1 run to conclude the second set with a 25-11 win.

The Buccaneers opened the third set with a 5-1 advantage. Vanzandt’s kill and Ashley Acuna’s ace contributed to a 3-0 run that put Blinn on top 16-7. Clerkley helped finish off Wharton by tallying three kills on a 6-1 run for Blinn to conclude the set with a 25-11 victory.

Next, the Buccaneers will travel to compete against No. 20 Tyler Junior College on Tuesday, March 2, at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.

(COURTESY: Tara Dreyer, Blinn Information)