No. 12 Blinn College volleyball made quick work of the competition at the Western Texas College Classic, sweeping all four of its matches without dropping a set over two days of play.

The Buccaneers capped the tournament Saturday with a pair of 3-0 victories, defeating Otero College 25-9, 25-22, 25-11 before closing the weekend with a 25-9, 25-15, 25-15 sweep of Dallas College Cedar Valley.

Blinn improved to 4-0 on the season.

Beddes Leads Blinn Against Otero

Sophomore hitter Mckynzee Beddes paced the Buccaneers’ attack against Otero with 11 kills as Blinn controlled the match from the opening set.

Freshman setters Valerie Yambao and Herring combined to keep the offense moving, with Yambao recording 14 assists and Herring adding 11.

Blinn also applied pressure from the service line. Freshman libero/defensive specialist Karolynn Youngblood finished with five aces.

Defensively, sophomore libero/defensive specialist Natalia Silva led the Buccaneers with 10 digs, while sophomore middle blocker Alana Asante contributed four block assists at the net.

Beddes emerged as one of Blinn’s most consistent offensive contributors throughout the tournament, providing a steady presence as the Buccaneers experimented with different lineups.

Buccaneers Finish Weekend With Another Sweep

Blinn carried its momentum into the tournament finale against Cedar Valley, winning all three sets by double digits.

Freshman hitter Akira Smallwood led the offense with eight kills. Yambao recorded 16 assists, while Herring added 11 assists and three aces.

Freshman libero/defensive specialist Caylie Neisner led Blinn with five digs, and freshman middle blocker Kansas Lamar contributed two block assists.

The Buccaneers received strong production from their setters and middle blockers throughout the tournament. Freshmen setters continued adjusting to Blinn’s offensive system while learning how to distribute the ball effectively among the team’s hitters.

Asante, Lamar and freshman London King also provided Blinn with depth in the middle, sharing responsibilities at the two middle blocker positions.

Defense, Serving Help Blinn Start 4-0

Blinn’s defense and serving were key factors throughout the Classic, helping the Buccaneers overcome occasional errors while keeping opponents from gaining momentum.

Silva continued to show significant growth in her sophomore season and played an important role in anchoring Blinn’s floor defense.

The Buccaneers ultimately completed four matches without surrendering a set, an encouraging start for a team featuring numerous new players. Blinn will look to reduce its errors as the level of competition increases during the next stretch of its schedule.

That challenge will come quickly.

Blinn returns home for its home opener against Hill College at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Kruse Center in Brenham.

The Buccaneers will then host the Kruse Kickoff Classic beginning Thursday, Aug. 27. The three-day tournament will feature several talented opponents, including No. 15 Indian Hills Community College and No. 2 Florida SouthWestern State College, the 2025 national runner-up.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and has captured 53 national championships since 1987.