BLINN VOLLEYBALL GOES 4-0 AT WESTERN TEXAS TOURNAMENT

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

A successful opening weekend is in the books for the 15th-ranked Blinn College volleyball team.

The Buccaneers capped a 4-0 run at the Western Texas Tournament with sweeps of Temple College and Clarendon College on Saturday in Snyder, Texas.

Blinn defeated Temple 25-15, 25-14, 25-10 to begin the day and closed out play with a 25-12, 25-12, 25-16 triumph over Clarendon.

"I'm really proud of how the girls played today," Bucs head coach Terry Gamble said. "We played two really good matches, and it's really hard to single out individual players today because the entire team played really well."

On the day, outside hitter MaKenna Loo had a big day with 22 total kills, 11 digs, and three service aces. Sophomore right-side hitter Kellen Dorotik posted 19 kills, while freshman outside hitter Greta Rakow tallied 12 kills and five aces. Freshman setter Bromli Watson paired an impressive 66 set assists with seven kills.

On defense, freshman libero Sophie Ilagan had a team-high 24 digs and was followed by sophomore defensive specialists Cierra Pesak and Kirby Kliafas, who had 16 and 10, respectively. 

Blinn will look to extend its unbeaten streak when it welcomes some of the NJCAA's top teams for the Kruse Kickoff Classic beginning Thursday, Aug. 29, at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas. 

The Buccaneers will play five matches during the three-day event, starting with a tilt against North Central Texas College at 7 p.m. on Aug. 29. Then on Friday, Aug. 30, Blinn will battle No. 10 New Mexico Junior College at 1 p.m. and No. 8 Odessa College at 5 p.m. The Bucs will end the Classic with a bang on Saturday, Aug. 31, when they clash with No. 14 Daytona State College at 11 a.m. and second-ranked and 2023 national runner-up Miami Dade College at 5 p.m.