Blinn College volleyball head coach Terry Gamble is waiting for his team to reach its full potential.
The 12th-ranked Buccaneers are finding ways to get the job done in the meantime.
Despite being slowed at times by unforced errors, Blinn earned a hard-fought 25-15, 25-12, 25-21 victory over Region XIV adversary Coastal Bend College on Thursday at the Kruse Center on the Blinn-Brenham Campus.
The victory was the Bucs’ ninth consecutive win and ninth sweep of the year as they moved to 10-1 overall and 2-0 in Region XIV play. The matchup was also Blinn’s home opener.
Gamble said he was happy to remain undefeated in region contests but added that increased offensive efficiency is possible if his team can clean up some mistakes.
(Pictured: Blinn College sophomore Brooke Pattschull, 16, spikes the ball during a match against Coastal Bend College on Aug. 31, 2023)
“We’re making too many errors right now; that’s our biggest detractor and that’s been our M.O. so far,” he said. “Until we clean that up, we’re going to have rough nights. I think we have the potential to be a great team, but we need to clean up the errors. I think our middles are playing really well and I like our offense, but our setters are struggling. Until they figure some things out, we’re unable to utilize our hitters the way I think we can.”
Freshman right-side hitter Kellen Dorotik said Blinn has seen some slow starts as of late and believes a boost in early-match energy could cure the Bucs’ woes.
“We started slower tonight than we’d like, but we picked things up a little bit as the match went along,” Dorotik explained. “We just need to keep working on our energy because once we get it to the level we expect it to be, I know this team is going to be really, really good.”
(Pictured: Blinn College freshman Kellen Dorotik, 9, sends the ball over the net during a match against Coastal Bend College on Aug. 31, 2023)
Though Blinn is ironing out some wrinkles, it still proved too much for the visiting Cougars.
The Bucs led from the outset in each of the first two sets and trailed just 1-0 in the decisive third set before tying the match and quickly taking a permanent lead.
Sophomore middle blocker Brooke Pattschull paced Blinn with 10 kills, followed by eight for freshman outside hitter Lexi Higgins, seven for Dorotik, and six for sophomore outside hitter Jaedyn Newman. Freshman setters Chloe Howard and Elizabeth Tyner dished out 21 and nine set assists, respectively. At the service line, Blinn picked up five aces, led by a pair for freshman libero/outside hitter Kirby Kliafas.
“Our offense is really good, and it’s going to get better,” Pattschull said. “Things are almost there for us, and I know we’re going to get there.”
(Pictured: Blinn College freshman Chloe Howard hits the floor for a dig during a match against Coastal Bend College on Aug. 31, 2023)
Freshman libero Cierra Pesak provided stiff defense for Blinn with 15 digs, and freshman hitter/libero Kaylen Kruse chipped in seven. Pattschull and sophomore hitter/blocker Don’Yah Cosie had one solo block apiece.
Up next, the Bucs host the annual Kruse Kickoff Classic at the Kruse Center. The two-day tournament begins Friday and ends Saturday. Blinn will open play in the tournament with a 1 p.m. bout against Temple College followed by a 5 p.m. clash with Hill College. On Saturday, the Bucs take on North Central Texas College at 11 a.m. and Central Wyoming College at 5 p.m.
