TRINITY VALLEY ENDS BLINN’S 16-MATCH WINNING STREAK

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

The No. 8 Blinn College volleyball team endured its first loss of the season by way of a 20-25, 15-25, 18-25 Region 14 setback at the hands of No. 10 Trinity Valley Community College on Wednesday at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.

The Buccaneers (16-1, 0-1 Region 14) never quite found their footing against the rival Cardinals.

“I have to do a better job of having the team ready to compete, especially against the best team we’ve played so far,” Blinn head coach Gregg Whitis said. “We didn’t offer much resistance against a really good opponent and that’s disappointing, but it’s on me. We’ll flush this one and move on and get back at it Friday.”

Offensively, the Bucs got a team-high eight kills from sophomore middle blocker Karolina Karabasz, while sophomore hitters Kaliko Schilling and Olivia Stringer added seven and six, respectively. Freshman hitter Annika Brooks tallied five.

Sophomore setter Leah Hoss dished out 17 assists, and freshman setter Camden Bizot added 10. Schilling and Hoss had one service ace apiece.

Blinn’s floor defense featured a team-leading nine digs for freshman defensive specialist/libero Zoey Montgomery. Stringer had eight and Schilling chipped in six.

At the net, sophomore middle blocker Jana Cetkovic paced the Bucs with one solo block and three block assists, while Brooks tallied two assists.

Blinn’s season continues at the two-day Amarillo Tournament beginning with a tilt against Trinidad State Junior College at 2 p.m on Friday. The Bucs then face Western Texas at 6 p.m., also Friday. On Saturday, Blinn takes on Otero College at 11 a.m. and Amarillo College at 1 p.m.