BLINN VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS EARN MULTIPLE ALL-REGION HONORS
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
The ninth-ranked Blinn College volleyball team has been recognized by Region 14 with five all-region selections and one superlative honor.
Sophomore hitter Olivia Stringer was named first-team all-region and the Region 14 Newcomer of the Year, and sophomore setter Leah Hoss and sophomore middle blocker Jana Cetkovic were tabbed first-team honorees.
Sophomore hitter Kaliko Schilling and freshman hitter Annika Brooks landed on the second-team list.
Awards were voted upon by coaches from the region’s eight teams. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
“It’s very nice when kids get recognized by other coaches,” Blinn head coach Gregg Whitis said. “We have five kids who the coaches in the region believed were worthy of recognition, and that’s special.”
Stringer’s lone season as a Buccaneer has been a memorable one. The NCAA Division I-transfer currently ranks second among NJCAA Division I hitters with 505 kills and is eighth all-time among Blinn hitters for kills in a season. She has posted 10 or more kills in 28 matches this season and has reached 20 or more kills four times. She also paced the Bucs with 350 digs.
“It’s such a blessing, and this team … these are the best girls I’ve ever played with,” Stringer said. “I know I’ve had a big impact on this team, but I wouldn’t be able to do anything without my teammates. They make all the difference for me and what I’m able to contribute.”
Hoss, a first-time all-region selection, has established herself as an offensive anchor in the Blinn attack this fall. The second-year Buc has 806 set assists and is now sixth all-time in program history with 1,573. Hoss also has tallied 57 service aces and 243 digs.
Cetkovic graduated to the first team this season after earning a second-team nod in 2024. She has a career-best 186 kills to go with 31 aces and has been a wall at the net with team highs of 137 block assists and 48 solo blocks. Her total assists and 1.39 blocks per set both rank second nationally.
Schilling has excelled opposite Stringer as a key piece to Blinn’s attack. The NCAA DI transfer has 327 kills and a team-leading 77 aces this season to go with 272 digs, 11 solo blocks and 29 block assists. She ranks second nationally in aces.
Brooks has found a home in the Blinn offense with 237 kills, and has proven herself a commodity on defense with 111 block assists, three solo blocks, and 78 digs.
The Bucs are 37-3 overall this season and finished as runners-up in both the Region 14 regular-season standings and the Region 14 Tournament. Blinn is vying for an at-large bid and a sixth consecutive trip to the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championship tournament. The field of 16 teams will be announced during a tournament selection show on www.njcaa.org on Wednesday.