The Buccaneers went 1-1 on opening day of the Region XIV Tournament on Friday, defeating Tyler Junior College in a four-set quarterfinal win before falling to top-seeded and ninth-ranked Trinity Valley Community College in the semifinal round at Panola College in Carthage, Texas.
Blinn (30-9) will need to win two matches in the consolation bracket Saturday to stay alive in the tournament, and could punch its ticket to the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championship in West Plains, Mo., on Sunday. If the Bucs qualify, it will be their third consecutive trip to the national tournament.
“The girls played hard today,” Blinn head coach Terry Gamble said. “We still have a chance at nationals.”
The Bucs will take the winner of the Wharton County Junior College-Lee College match Saturday at 3 p.m. If Blinn prevails, it would finish tournament play Sunday.ย
Blinn opened the tournament with a 22-25, 25-16, 25-18, 25-16 triumph over Tyler.
Freshman hitterย LaNeah Laraย paced the Bucs with 18 kills, while national kills leader and sophomore hitterย Kierslynn Wrightย tallied 14.
Freshman setterย Darby Nashย had 48 set assists. At the service line, freshman liberoย Emily Hardeeย delivered a pair of aces.
On defense, sophomore liberoย Ellie Turnerย collected 22 digs, while Wright and freshman utilityย Kaylen Kruseย chipped in 12 apiece. Freshmanย Don’Yah Cosieย had three block assists and freshmenย Taylor Glendeningย andย Zuzia Rutย each had two.
Trinity Valley swept the Bucs in the semifinal round 25-21, 25-24.ย
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
