TYLER, Texas – Blinn College volleyball started off on the right path in both of its matches Friday afternoon but was unable to hold on in losing 3-1 to Missouri State University-West Plains and 3-2 to Salt Lake Community College to open the Dana Hatch Invitational in Tyler with a 0-2 record.
“I think we showed a little bit of our youth today,” said Blinn head coach Kalie Mader. “We do return two starters but we still have to learn how to execute down the stretch.”
The Buccaneers lost to West Plains by the score of 25-22, 23-25, 16-25 and 23-25 and then lost to Salt Lake 30-28, 25-9, 22-25, 22-25 and 14-16.
Blinn was able to shoot out to a quick start in both matches as the Buccaneers grabbed the first set against West Plains 25-22 behind six kills from Alexis Kingston but the match went downhill from there.
West Plains rallied to take the second set 25-23 in a closely contested set. The third set got away from Blinn a little bit as West Plains earned their widest margin of victory in the third 25-16. Blinn recovered in the third set to keep it close but West Plains closed out the match with a 25-23 victory despite a solid set from Abolanle Onipede with six kills.
Kingston led the Buccaneers in kills with 13 and Onipede finished with 12 in the match with Danusia Borgeaud and Haley Howard each earning six kills. Jordyn Keamo guided Blinn with 42 assists and Borgeaud had nine digs. Onipede led in hitting percentage at .320 and Kingston was close behind at .270 and the team total was .209.
Blinn was on the verge of its first victory in the second match of the day against Salt Lake in jumping out to a 2-0 lead in sets but that lead would also slip away late in the match. Salt Lake refused to give up and stole a 3-2 victory away from the Buccaneers.
Borgeaud had a solid match with 22 kills with a .340 hitting percentage while Onipede was second in kills with 13 and a sparkling .480 hitting percentage. Kingston and Eboni Mitchell each had eight kills as the team hit for a combined .207 average with too many errors hurting Blinn.
Keamo had a solid match with 56 assists while Dana Teets had 16 digs and Borgeaud finished with 12 digs.
Blinn put together a set worth remembering against Salt Lake, taking the second set 25-9 to grab a 2-0 advantage in sets but the lead wouldn’t hold as Salt Lake fought back.
“When we are on like we were in that second set then we are unstoppable,” Mader said. “It just takes time for a young team to do everything right.”
Blinn will continue play in the Dana Hatch Invitation with two matches tomorrow. The first match will be against Gadsden State Community College at 11 a.m. and the final match will be against Panola College at 3 p.m. in Tyler.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 32 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit: www.buccaneersports.com.
