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Blinn College

Scoreboard

Greta Rakow 2024
0
Wharton County Junio WHARTON
3
Winner Blinn College BLINN CO
Wharton County Junio WHARTON
0
Final
3
Blinn College BLINN CO
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Wharton County Junio WHARTON 15 18 12 (0)
Blinn College BLINN CO 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

No. 14 Blinn uses potent attack to sweep Wharton County in Region XIV opener

The Buccaneers travel to Lee for a region matchup Sept. 4 in Baytown, Texas

The 13th-ranked Blinn College volleyball team picked the best way to begin Region XIV play: A sweep.

The Buccaneers worked around some defensive miscues and rode solid hitting to an impressive 25-15, 25-18, 25-12 triumph Tuesday at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.

"We started a little slow, which was surprising because I thought we would come out of the gate a little quicker," Blinn head coach Terry Gamble said. "We started to find a groove in the third set – especially behind the hitting of Kellen (Dorotik) – and put a little pep back in our step. We still have to get better defensively and with our communication, but we'll get there."

Kellen Dorotik 2024
(Pictured: Blinn sophomore Kellen Dorotik spikes the ball during a match against Wharton County on Sept. 3, 2024)

Dorotik, a sophomore outside hitter, recorded 17 kills to pace Blinn (8-2, 1-0 Region XIV). The second-year Buc and 2023 NJCAA Division I All-American's Tuesday-night output puts her at 155 kills for the season and placed her in an unofficial tie for first place in that stat category nationally (NJCAA DI statistics were not fully updated Tuesday night).

Freshman hitters Gretta Rakow, MaKenna Loo, and Rosalinda Navarro followed with eight, seven, and six kills, respectively.

"Kellen is always someone we can rely on to put the ball down," Loo said. "We know she was a huge part of the success here last year, so I think our other hitters came in wanting to play a huge part for this program this season, and the attention she's drawing from defenses definitely helps us step up and make an impact. We're focusing on our roles and what we can do to help this team."

MaKenna Loo 2024
(Pictured: Blinn freshman MaKenna Loo spikes the ball against Wharton County on Sept. 3, 2024)

Freshman setters Bromli Watson (22 assists) and Leah Hoss (14) continued their pivotal roles in the center of the Blinn attack. Watson said the distribution job has been made easier thanks to the Bucs' array of talented hitters.

"It's awesome because we have so much trust in all of our hitters," Watson explained. "It's just really fun knowing whoever we set the ball to is going to take care of business."

Blinn also found success from the service line, where it had nine aces. Rakow led the way with three.

Though the Bucs' offense thrived, Gamble said his team needs to find its footing defensively, especially at the net. Freshman libero Sophie Ilagan had 14 digs, followed by 11 for Loo, but Blinn's blocking totaled just one solo block and six assists against the Pioneers. Dorotik and freshman middle blocker Jana Cetkovic had three block assists apiece.  

Greta Rakow 2024
(Pictured: Blinn freshman Greta Rakow sends the ball over the net during a match against Wharton County on Sept. 3, 2024)

"We have to become a better blocking team; it isn't one of our strengths right now," Gamble said. "but we're going to keep telling the girls the same thing we always tell them, and that's to keep playing hard every point and the other stuff should take care of itself."

Blinn has a quick turnaround as it travels for a region matchup at Lee College at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, in Baytown, Texas.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 49 national championships since 1987.
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