A new season of Blinn College volleyball is on the horizon as the 11th-ranked Buccaneers open play this week.
Coming off a season in which it made a third consecutive trip to the NJCAA Division I Volleyball Championship tournament, Blinn aims to continue its stretch of success with a reshaped roster.
Blinn begins the season in the Weatherford Tournament in Weatherford, Texas, kicking off play against Dallas College Richland at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 18. When the Bucs take the court, they’ll do so with just four players from the 2022 national tournament team. Blinn also will be without one of its veteran hitters, who was lost for the season due to injury.
The Bucs return sophomores Kaylen Kruse (outside hitter and libero), Taylor Glendening (middle blocker), Lexi Higgins (outside hitter), and Don’Yah Cosie (middle blocker and right-side hitter). Blinn also added a pair of sophomore Division I transfers in middle blocker Brooke Pattschull (from the University of Southern Utah) and outside hitter Jaedyn Newman (Bethune-Cookman University).
Blinn’s roster is otherwise made up of nine freshmen.
“I like the makeup of the team when it comes to their individual personalities and their work ethic,” head coach Terry Gamble said. “We have a lot to learn, but I like that the girls are putting in the time. We have a lot of expectations for all of our kids, really, especially our freshmen who are grasping everything that’s being thrown at them right now. They’re working their tails off.”
Following a recent scrimmage against Our Lady of the Lake University, Gamble said he felt good about his team’s serve-receive ability, as well as the ability of his middle blockers, including Pattschull and freshman Kellen Dorotik.
“The scrimmage really tested us and gave us a chance to see how we work as a team in a game situation,” Pattschull said. “We’re going to need to find a leader … someone who can step up and bring everyone together, because we have a lot of talent on this team and a lot of reasons to be excited for what’s to come.”
(Pictured: Blinn head volleyball coach Terry Gamble speaks to his team during a game against Lee College in 2022)
The Buccaneers posted a 34-11 mark in 2022, which included a 10-6 record in a tough Region XIV conference. Blinn advanced to the national tournament, where it finished 1-2 in three matches. To extend its string of tournament appearances, Cosie said the Buccaneers will need to establish a strong chemistry to go with their positive work ethic.
“Everyone is coming into practice every day and leaving their all on the court,” said Cosie. “That’s what we’re going to need day in and day out to be successful. We need to gel as one and put in our all every time we’re on the court, whether it’s a practice or a game.”
Blinn will play eight tournament games on the road before its home and Region XIV opener against Tyler Junior College at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30. The Buccaneers will also host two home tournaments at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas: the Kruse Kickoff Classic beginning Friday, Sept. 2, and the Blinn Invitational, beginning Thursday, Sept. 15.
“It’s going to be a tough schedule, non-conference and conference,” Gamble said, “but the expectations for this team will be what they are every year. We expect to compete every day and be right there at the end with a chance to win the entire thing.”
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 43 NJCAA national championships since 1987.
