PASADENA, Texas – No. 7 Blinn College volleyball progressively got better in its match against Hillsborough Community College but was unable to notch a victory as the Buccaneers were swept 3-0 to open the San Jacinto College Military Classic Thursday evening in Pasadena.
Hillsborough got out to a fast start and won by the score 25-19, 25-20 and 27-25. After the sweep, the Blinn record falls to 2-3 overall.
Kayla Valigura led Blinn in kills with eight and added four blocks. Paola Maria Salas Adorno earned six kills and 13 digs while Ashleigh Traylor added six kills and six digs. Ally Lanik led the Buccaneers with 17 assists and added 11 digs while Kylee Kaaihue added 15 assists in the loss.
Blinn got off to a slow start and lost the first set 25-19 but the Buccaneers didn’t crumble and continued to fight hard in each subsequent set.
“We played better and better with each set in the match,” said Kalie Mader, Blinn head coach. “We had great intensity and that is what we are going to need for the rest of the season.”
Each set was closer for Blinn as it had its opportunity to grab a set and extend the match in the third. Late mistakes hurt the Buccaneers in the third set in a 27-25 loss that sealed the sweep for Hillsborough.
“I thought our middles really played good and Alexis Kingston had another good match,” Mader.
Blinn will continue in the Military Class with two more matches on Friday, Sept. 2. The Buccaneers open up the day against Northeastern Junior College at 9 a.m. and close out the day with a 1 p.m. match against Hill College.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 34 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
