PASADENA, Texas – The Blinn Buccaneer volleyball team is on a hot streak, and even the fourth-ranked team in the nation couldn't put that streak to an end.
Blinn beat San Jacinto in four sets here Tuesday night, 25-19, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19.
Sophomore middle blocker Bruna Evangelista led the way with 16 kills, but it was Karian Castanon-Hill who caused the Lady Ravens the most trouble. Castanon-Hill, a sophomore from Oakland, Calif., pounded 14 kills and had a match-best .500 hitting percentage.
"Kadi couldn't be stopped," Blinn (13-1) coach Erin Mellinger said.
The Buccaneers had four players reach double-digit kills as Jaeda Allen and Rachel Sharp each posted 10.
"I don't think we've ever had that," Mellinger said, who's team hit at a .280 clip in the match. "We did pretty well distributing the ball."
Sophomore setter Crystal Young could be thanked for that as she dished out 53 assists. Alyssa Lamont had 15 digs, and Sharp added another 12.
San Jacinto is the fifth top 10 team to fall to the Buccaneers this season. Blinn, the No. 13 team in the NJCAA preseason poll, has also beaten Iowa Western Community College (2), the College of Southern Idaho (3), Salt Lake Community College (6) and Tyler Junior College (9).
Mellinger attributes the Bucs' success to the team's depth.
"We're pretty deep, and our practices are very competitive," she said.