The 14th-ranked Blinn College volleyball team ended the New Mexico Junior College Classic with a two-match split Saturday in Lea County, N.M.

The Buccaneers opened the day with a sweep of Hill College before falling to New Mexico Junior College in four sets to finish the tournament with a 3-1 record.

"Overall, it was a good weekend," Blinn head coach Terry Gamble said. "This team just keeps working hard and I'm really proud of them."

The Buccaneers (16-4) opened the day with a 26-24, 25-20, 25-21 win over Hill.

(Pictured: Blinn College's LaNeah Lara, right, spikes the ball against Trinity Valley on Sept. 6)

Sophomore Kierslynn Wright and freshman LaNeah Lara paced the Blinn offense with 10 kills, while freshman Taylor Glendening tallie five. Freshmen setters Darby Nash and Kelsi Wingo handed out 15 and seven assists, respectively.

On defense, sophomore libero Ellie Turner had 16 digs, Nash had 13, and Wright added 10.

In their second match of the day, the Bucs opened with a first-set victory, but couldn't maintain control as New Mexico rallied for a 12-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-22 win.

Wright paced Blinn with 16 kills, while Lara, Glendening, and freshman Madi Gundry chipped in seven, six, and six, apiece.

Nash had 19 assists, followed by Wingo's 15.

Wright served up four aces from the service line.

Turner again spearheaded the defense with 24 digs. Wright and Gundry posted 11 digs apiece and Nash had nine.

Blinn resumes play when it hosts Region XIV counterpart Victoria College at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.

Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 42 NJCAA national championships since 1987.