BRENHAM, Texas – Blinn College volleyball had moments of brilliance in each set against Wharton County Junior College but it was Wharton closing out each set for a 3-0 victory over the Buccaneers on Dig Pink Night Tuesday night inside the P.E. Building.
Wharton took the sweep by the score 25-23, 25-22 and 25-19. With the loss, Blinn’s overall record falls to 13-13 and 4-2 in Region XIV play.
“The positive thing is that we are out-earning our opponent by a lot however, we are not playing cleaner than our opponent,” said Kalie Mader, Blinn head coach. “We are hitting and serving balls out of bounds and into the net and we need to clean that up.”
This match was played on Dig Pink Night as the Blinn volleyball team honored Courtney Turner, mother of volleyball player Madison Turner, as she battles cancer.
Paola Marie Salas Adorno led the Buccaneers with 12 kills and 11 digs. Alexis Kingston added eight kills and 10 digs. Ally Lanik led Blinn with 14 assists.
Blinn led 4-3 early on in the first set after a Wharton mistake and the Buccaneers even held a 21-20 lead after a kill from Adorno. Wharton was able to make clutch plays down the stretch and take five the next seven points to take the first set 25-23.
The Buccaneers showed signs of life in the second set after taking a 16-13 lead after a block from Kingston. Wharton eventually leveled the set at 20-20 and again closed out the set strong by taking five of the next seven points to claim a 25-22 victory to take a 2-0 advantage in sets.
Blinn did not get done easily in the third set as Adorno earned three consecutive kills for Blinn to earn a 12-11 lead. That lead disappeared as Wharton scored five straight and carried that momentum over to earn the sweep with a 25-19 victory.
Blinn will open the Applebee’s Classic at home on Thursday, Oct. 6 against No. 4 Panola College at 6 p.m. The match against Panola will also be the Blinn College Alumni & Friends/Lettermen’s Association night.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 34 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.