#7-BUC VOLLEYBALL CELEBRATE SOPHOMORES WITH 3-GAME WIN
Buccaneers improve record to 20-1 in final home game
BRENHAM, Texas — The No. 7 Blinn College volleyball team downed Coastal Bend College, 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-9), on Sophomore Day in the Kruse Center Monday night.
“I thought we played really well tonight and I am really proud of this team,” head coach Terry Gamble said. “We stayed focused the whole time and I was glad to see some girls get some playing time that haven’t.”
With the win, the Buccaneers improve their overall record to 20-1 and conference record to 11-1.
“I can’ say enough about our sophomores,” Gamble said. “They have changed this program from a skill level to a leadership level. They put Blinn volleyball back where it should be.”
(Tara Dreyer)
Sophomore Essence Clerkley, Brooke Borden, and Tatum Smidovec were celebrated before the game.
Lixai Perez Velez led the Buccaneers with 14 digs and four aces, Loren Scott followed with nine digs, and Borden tallied eight digs. Ashley Taylor was phenomenal on defense, putting up a season-high seven block assists, while Jayde Shelton followed with six and Clerkley had three.
On offense, Shelton led Blinn with 11 kills, while Chard’e Vanzandt and Clerkley each tallied six. Scott recorded 25 assists to lead Blinn.
“I think we came together as unit tonight, focused very well from beginning to end, and came out on top every point,” Borden said. “I thought we worked hard and did a great job tonight. I am grateful for this team and to be a part of it.”
(Tara Dreyer)
Shelton led the Buccaneers with three kills and one block assist to a 12-4 lead in the first set. Taylor’s kill and Scott’s ace put Blinn on top 19-7. Blinn finished off the set with a 3-1 run, capped off with an ace by Kyndal Coufal, for the 25-12 win.
In the second set, the Buccaneers went on an 8-0 run as Perez Velez served three aces, and Shelton and Clerkley each put up two block assists to lead 11-3. Smidovec jumped in for two kills for Blinn to lead 23-11. An error on Coastal Bend and a kill by Shelton allowed the Buccaneers to win, 25-12.
In the third set, the Buccaneers ran off with a 14-5 lead. Back-to-back kills by Shelton and Coufal, and a block by Taylor, gave Blinn an 18-6 advantage. Then, Clerkley led Blinn on a 5-0 run with two kills for a 24-8 lead. Megan Kessler came up with her third kill in the match to finish off Coastal Bend, 25-9, for the sweep.
Next, the Buccaneers will compete in their final regular season game of the season against Wharton County Junior College on Thursday, March 25, at 6 p.m. on the road.
For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
(COURTESY: Tara Dreyer, Blinn Information)