BRENHAM, Texas – Blinn College volleyball was able to cut down its errors in the opening match of the day Saturday and swept Pratt Community College 3-0 but momentum didn't carry over to the final match as Iowa Western Community College swept the Buccaneers 3-0 in the 2015 Premier Tournament at the PE Building in Brenham.
Blinn swept Pratt by the score 25-18, 25-12 and 25-17 and then Iowa Western returned the favor to the Buccaneers with a sweep by the score of 25-18, 25-13 and 25-20. After splitting the pair of games, Blinn's record moves to 11-7 overall and 0-1 in conference.
"I was glad that we managed our errors better against Pratt," said Blinn head coach Kalie Mader. "We struggled a bit because we previously settled into our roles and then with a player missing this weekend we had to make changes and it was unsettling."
Blinn grabbed control of the momentum early against Pratt with five straight points capped by a kill from Eboni Mitchell for a 6-2 lead. The Buccaneers kept that momentum going to take the first set 25-18 after a kill from Abolanle Onipede.
The second set was even better for Blinn as it scored six straight points to grab a 12-3 lead early on. Onipede again sealed the set with a kill to give the Buccaneers a 2-0 lead in sets with a 25-12 second set.
Blinn kept its foot on the gas in the third set as Jordyn Keamo nailed a kill for an 11-5 lead early on. Onipede closed out the match with a kill to earn the sweep with a 25-17 third set victory.
Onipede led Blinn with 12 kills and a .526 hitting percentage while Alexis Kingston finished with seven kills. Danusia Borgeaud earned 19 digs while Keamo dished out 28 assists. Blinn finished with a .248 hitting percentage against Pratt and had more aces (6) than service errors (5).
The Buccaneers couldn't keep the momentum going against Iowa Western in being swept. Onipede and Kingston each had seven kills as the team hit for a .119 percentage. Borgeaud and MeKayla Gurley each had 14 digs and Keamo dished out 24 assists in the loss.
Blinn will be into Region XIV play on Friday, Sept. 18 by hosting Laredo Community College at 6 p.m. at the PE Building in Brenham. That match will be the Adam's Angels Ministry Fundraiser Match. For more information on Adam's Angels Ministry visit www.adamsangelsministry.org.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 32 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit: www.buccaneersports.com.
About Blinn College
A comprehensive community college committed to educational excellence and to individual and community enhancement, Blinn College has served its 13-county Central Texas region since 1883. With an enrollment of 19,317 students, Blinn ranks among the nation's leaders in transferring students to leading four-year universities and has received national recognition for affordable educational excellence.
Blinn offers job seekers the skills and credentials they need to succeed in the region's fast-growing industries, and partners with local businesses to provide skills development training for incumbent employees. Each year, Blinn programs and students make a $345.3 million impact on the local economy.
For more information about Blinn College and exciting student success initiatives such as Destination Success: First-Year Focus and the Blinn TEAM Program, visit: www.blinn.edu or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
