#11 BLINN VOLLEYBALL DEFEATS PANOLA 3-0
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
In the midst of a front-loaded, match-heavy schedule, the No. 11 Blinn College volleyball team has developed a “next” mentality this season.
On the docket for the Buccaneers on Wednesday was yet another hard-earned victory.
Blinn got a big offensive performance from national kills leader and sophomore hitter Olivia Stringer and combined with a strong showing from freshman libero Aly Frias and a trio of solid blocking efforts, the Bucs dismissed Region 14 foe Panola College 25-21, 25-22, 25-15 at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.
Blinn (22-1, 3-1 region) has played the most matches in NJCAA Division I this season, and with five more on the schedule this weekend at the Blinn Invitational, continues to be tested regularly.
In response, head coach Gregg Whitis and his team have stressed the importance of focusing on what’s next, without peeking too far into the future.
“The thing we’re pretty good at is we’re not thinking about anything else except the next match,” Whitis explained, “and the benefit of our heavy schedule is that we’re not allowed to. It’s next play; next point; next set; next match for us. We’re just going to continue to play the matches as the schedule has them laid out, and all we know is that we have to play again Thursday.”
Blinn’s laser focus has led to its best record through 23 matches since 2014 (also 22-1). By comparison, however, the 2014 Bucs did not play their 23rd match of the season until Oct. 3.
The Buccaneers kept their strong season going against the Fillies, who also feature one of the nation’s top hitters in freshman Suzana Boyadzhiyska.
Entering Wednesday’s match, Stringer (268) and Boyadzhiyska (259) were ranked first and second nationally in kills.
Blinn countered Boyadzhiyska with a heavy dose of Stringer, who tallied team highs with 15 kills and 11 digs, including the set-clinching kills in both the first and third sets.
“Our goal tonight was just to bring the energy and do our jobs,” Stringer said. “Against these tough teams in our region, what matters most is contributing the way we’re capable of, and that’s what we did tonight.”
Following Stringer’s stellar hitting night was an eight-kill from freshman hitter Annika Brooks, a seven-kill night for sophomore hitter Shiloh Jones; and a pair of six-kill outputs for sophomore hitter Kaliko Schilling and sophomore middle blocker Jana Cetkovic.
Brooks, Cetkovic, and sophomore middle blocker Karolina Karabas were also dynamic on defense, particularly at the net, where they registered six, four, and four block assists, respectively. Karabasz also had one solo block.
As Whitis has stressed to his setters the importance of incorporating Blinn’s middle blockers into its offense this season, Cetkovic has been one of the benefactors of that focus.
“We’ve been setting the middles more and it’s great,” Cetkovic said. “More sets means more pressure on us, but we love it, and honestly, we feel like we’ve earned the increased opportunities, too. We all worked hard over the summer and continue to work hard in practice to improve, and that shows in our matches.”
Cetkovic put the finishing touches on the Bucs’ victory in set two when she took a set from sophomore setter Leah Hoss and beat the Panola block for a kill to the Fillies’ center court.
In the final set of the night, Panola held a 4-1 edge before Schilling recorded two kills to go with a Cetkovic block that got Blinn back into it. The Bucs took the lead for good when Jones recorded a kill to make it 6-5.
Blinn recorded four of the final five points of the night, capped by a block for Karabasz, a kill for Brooks, and the match-ending kill for Stringer.
Hoss finished her night with 23 set assists, followed by 16 for sophomore setter Cadmen Bizot.
Frias finished with three service aces and seven digs and drew a glowing performance review from Whitis.
“The player who made the biggest difference for us tonight – without question – was Aly Frias,” Whitis said. “In every set as a server and as a defender, Aly made plays for us that allowed us to play from in front as we got into the back third of each set. I’m really proud of the way she played tonight.”
The Bucs begin play in the Blinn Invitational when they take on College of DuPage at 6 p.m. on Thursday at the Kruse Center. Blinn faces Pratt Community College at 11 a.m. on Friday followed by a 3 p.m. clash with Dallas College Richland. On Saturday, the Bucs face Dallas College Cedar Valley at 11 a.m. and Dallas College North Lake at 3 p.m.