The defending national champion Blinn College volleyball team will begin its title defense at the Tyler Junior College Tournament on Aug. 24.
The Buccaneers, who went a perfect 38-0 on their way to their second national championship in four years last season, are about to enter their first season under head coach Erin Mellinger. As an assistant coach, Mellinger helped guide CSI to a national championship in 2009 and a sixth-place finish at last season’s tournament. During her five seasons there, the team made three national tournament appearances, won two Region 18 championships and posted an overall record of 148-48.
Prior to her stint at CSI, Mellinger was the head coach at Lewis-Clark State College, an NAIA Division I program, for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. She was also the head coach at Independence (Kan.) Community College, where she led the NJCAA Division I program to a 62-21 record over two seasons, coached two All-Americans and was named the NJCAA District K coach of the year.
The Buccaneers will make their home debut at the Labor Day Classic Aug. 31-Sept. 1, a tournament that will include Trinity Valley, Western Texas, Labette and Temple.
The Buccaneers will face some of the toughest competition in the nation the following weekend at the Patriot’s Day Tournament in Spring, a showcase that will feature four of the top 20 teams in the nation last season. Blinn is scheduled to face Salt Lake Community College, Hillsborough, Gadsden (Ga.) State, and Frank Phillips College.
Blinn will begin Region XIV Conference play Sept. 18 when it travels to play Laredo College. The Region XIV Tournament, which Blinn has won each of the last three years and eight of the last nine, will be held Nov. 1-4 in Baytown. The NJCAA National Championships will be held Nov. 15-17 in West Plains, Mo.
For more information on Blinn College athletics, please visit www.buccaneerathletics.com.
2012 BLINN COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
Date Day Opponent Location Time
TBD TBD Scrimmage vs. Blinn Alumni Brenham, TX TBD
Aug 24-25 Fri/Sat Tyler Junior College Tournament Tyler, TX TBA
Aug 28 Tues Hill College Hillsboro, TX 6pm
Aug 31-Sept 1Fri/Sat Blinn College Labor Day Classic Brenham, TX TBA
Sept 7-8 Fri/Sat Patriot’s Day Tournament Woodlands, TX TBA
Sept 11 Tues San Jacinto College* Brenham, TX 6pm
Sept 14 Fri Hill College Brenham, TX 6pm
Sept 18 Tues Laredo College* Laredo, TX 6pm
Sept 21 Fri Coastal Bend College* Beeville, TX 6pm
Sept 25 Tues Wharton County Junior College* Wharton, TX 6pm
Sept 28 Fri Trinity Valley Community College Athens, TX 6pm
Oct 2 Tues San Jacinto College* Pasadena, TX 6pm
Oct 5 Fri Navarro College Corsicana, TX 6pm
Oct 9 Tues Lee College* Brenham, TX 6pm
Oct 12 Fri Coastal Bend College* Brenham, TX 6pm
Oct 13 Sat Laredo College* Brenham, TX 1pm
Oct 16 Tues Wharton County Junior College* Brenham, TX 6pm
Oct 19 Fri Temple College & Odessa College Temple, TX 6pm
Oct 25 Thurs Lee College* Baytown, TX 6pm
Nov 1-4 Thurs-Sun Regional Tournament Baytown, TX TBA
Nov 15-17 Thurs/Fri/Sat NJCAA National Tournament West Plains, MO TBA
Bold indicates home matches
* Indicates conference matches
