The ninth-ranked Blinn College volleyball team ended the Kruse Kickoff Classic with a 3-1 record following a 1-1 split on Saturday, Sept. 3, in Brenham, Texas.
The Buccaneers (12-2) dropped a tough five-set decision to No. 7 Odessa College in their opening match before rebounding for a hard-fought five-set win over Hill College to end the day.
"We played hard, and I thought both matches were kind of identical to each other," Blinn head coach Terry Gamble said. "I'm really happy to finish the tournament 3-1 and we'll get back to work on Monday."
In their Saturday opener, the Buccaneers recovered from a 2-0 set disadvantage to force a fifth set against Odessa but fell short in the end.
(Pictured: Blinn College's Kierslynn Wright, center, spikes the ball against Odessa College on Saturday)
Freshman hitter LaNeah Lara paced Blinn with 19 kills and sophomore hitter Kierslynn Wright had 10. Wright also had a pair of service aces and three digs on defense. Freshmen hitters Don'Yah Cosie and Taylor Glendening chipped in five kills apiece.
Freshman setter Kelsi Wingo handed out 35 set assists.
On defense, freshman libero Emily Hardee had a team-high 17 digs, followed by 16 for sophomore libero Ellie Turner.
In its final match of the tournament, Blinn edged Hill to end the weekend on a high note.
(Pictured: Blinn College's Taylor Glendening, left, and LaNeah Lara reach up for a block against Odessa College on Saturday)
Wright posted a team-high 18 kills to lead the Bucs, while Lara knocked down 13. Wingo dished out 27 assists. Wright also had three aces and freshman Polianna Hernandez served up two.
On defense, Hardee notched 21 digs, Wright and freshman Madi Gundry added 15, Turner had nine, and freshman Kaylen Kruse tallied seven. Glendening had a pair of solo blocks.
Blinn resumes Region XIV play when it hosts Trinity Valley Community College at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at the Kruse Center.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
