#12-BUC VOLLEYBALL PICKS UP TWO SWEEPS AGAINST VICTORIA

BRENHAM, Texas — The No. 12 Blinn College volleyball team picked up two sweeps against Victoria College in the Kruse Center Thursday.

The Buccaneers defeated Victoria in the first match, 3-0 (25-7, 25-11, 25-17), then concluded the day with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-13) victory.

With the pair of wins, the Buccaneers are now 15-1 overall and 7-1 in conference play.

“We were really good offensively, and our middles, Essence Clerkley and Ashley Taylor, did a really nice job of controlling the court,” head coach Terry Gamble said. “I also thought that Chard’e Vanzandt had another really big game today. Our block helped us today and we were able to transition into our offense pretty fast.”

Blinn 3 – Victoria 0 

The Buccaneers defeated Victoria 3-0 (25-7, 25-11, 25-17) to open the doubleheader.

Jayde Shelton led the offense with 16 kills, while Clerkley and Vanzandt each tallied eight, and Taylor totaled seven. Loren Scott led the Buccaneers with 32 assists and Lixai Perez Velez led with 23 digs. In addition, Shelton and Taylor each had four block assists, while Clerkley and Kyndal Coufal each had two.

“Every person individually took the initiative to do their job and that is what helped us as a unit today,” Taylor said. “I know we have a pretty good-looking record, but our focus is on getting better as a team and working on the things that we need to do collectively to be successful.”

Scott and Perez Velez combined for two aces for the Buccaneers to grab a 4-3 lead in the first set. Clerkley recorded two kills and Emily Smajstrla delivered two kills to lead Blinn on a 6-0 run for an 11-4 cushion. Blinn continued to control the match with a 4-2 run to lead 16-6. The Buccaneers finished off Victoria with a 9-1 run that included an ace by Clerkley and a kill by Taylor for the 25-7 win.

The Buccaneers took off with a 12-2 lead in the second set as Taylor led the way with two kills and one block assist. Clerkley came up with three straight kills for Blinn to stretch its lead to 21-9. Taylor jumped in for a kill to put the Buccaneers up 23-9, and Shelton scored Blinn’s final kill for the 25-11 victory.

Vanzandt and Shelton combined for four kills to give Blinn an early 6-4 lead in the third set. Clerkley came up with a kill and Brooke Borden delivered an ace to keep Blinn ahead 9-4 for good. The Buccaneers strung together six straight kills, and were led by Taylor with three, to lead 19-9. Victoria managed a 6-2 run at the end of the set, but the Buccaneers came up with the final points needed for the sweep.

Blinn 3 – Victoria 0 

The Buccaneers finished the day with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-13) victory over Victoria.

Coufal led the offense with a season-high 11 kills, Clerkley followed with 10, Shelton put up eight, and Vanzandt pitched in seven. Scott led Blinn with 32 assists and four aces, while Savannah Sebek delivered three aces in the win. Perez Velez recorded 23 digs, while Taylor and Shelton each had five block assists to lead Blinn. Clerkley followed with four block assists.

“Our middles had a really good game, and we stayed focused and executed today, so it feels really good to pick up these wins,” Scott said. “Everyone worked really well together, communicated, and played as a team today. Everyone has really bought into the Blinn volleyball program, and we are here to play for each other, play for our coaches, and have a great season, so that is showing on the court and in our record.”

Clerkley tallied three kills early to help Blinn take an 11-6 lead to open the first set. Then, Clerkley and Coufal each recorded a kill in a 4-0 run for Blinn to expand its lead, 19-13. Scott came up with a tip for Blinn to lead 21-16. Blinn ended the set on a 3-0 run capped off with a kill by Shelton for the 25-17 win.

Blinn scored seven straight points, including two kills by Clerkley and two aces by Sebek, to lead the second set 12-4. Taylor recorded a block and kill to give Blinn a 21-12 lead, while Sebek’s third ace of the set put the Buccaneers on top, 24-14. Victoria’s error allowed Blinn to take the set, 25-14.

In the third set, Blinn went on a 6-1 run that included two aces by Scott to lead 14-7. Back-to-back kills by Shelton and Clerkley kept the Buccaneers on top 20-10. Blinn kept the momentum rolling to finish the match on a 3-1 run for the 25-13 victory.

Next, the Buccaneers will compete against No. 20 Tyler Junior College on Monday, March 15, at 4 p.m. in the Kruse Center.

For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.

(COURTESY: Tara Dreyer, Blinn Information)