EASTERN ARIZONA ENDS BLINN VOLLEYBALL SEASON AT NATIONALS

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

The ninth-ranked Blinn College volleyball team saw its fantastic season come to a close Friday in the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championship tournament.

The Buccaneers fell 21-25, 17-25, 25-22, 10-25 to No. 10 Eastern Arizona College in the second-round of the ninth-place consolation bracket at the Winfield Dunn Center in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Blinn finished its year with a 38-5 record and a sixth-consecutive trip to the national tournament, where it went 1-2 after earning its first victory on the national stage since 2022.

“We had a good season, and we were able to make it to the national tournament, which is always the goal at Blinn,” Bucs head coach Gregg Whitis said. “We won 38 games, and when you’ve had a season like we’ve had, you’re not used to losing, and we never want to get used to this feeling. Coming to this tournament, on this stage, against this level of competition, you’re mindful of what it takes to compete at this level, and that will motivate us as we head into the spring and next season.”

In his first campaign with Blinn, Whitis helped the Bucs match their 2024 win total and earn runner-up finishes in both the Region 14 regular-season standings and the Region 14 Tournament. 

Among Blinn's 38 victories were four wins against teams in the NJCAA Division I top-20 poll.

Blinn opened the season 16-0, and after suffering its first loss of the year, reeled off a season-high 17-game winning streak. The Bucs also earned 25 sweeps, including 10 in a row, and went to five sets just four times — all wins. 

Additionally, sophomore hitter Olivia Stringer was named the Region 14 Newcomer of the Year and a first-team all-region honoree, while sophomore setter Leah Hoss (first team), sophomore middle blocker Jana Cetkovic (first team), sophomore hitter Kaliko Schilling (second team), and freshman hitter Annika Brooks (second team) also earned all-region recognition.

Blinn also led NJCAA Division I in total kills (1,841), set assists (1,718), service aces (346), and block assists (557); was third in total blocks (386); and ninth in both blocks per set (2.59) and total digs (2,114). 

“It was a successful season,” Whitis added, “and we’re proud of what we accomplished and for upholding the standards of this program.”