PASADENA, TX -- It took the top-ranked team in the nation to end the Blinn Buccaneers’ win streak.
The 14th-ranked Blinn College volleyball team lost to No. 1 San Jacinto 25-23, 25-21, 25-17 here Saturday night, ending a five-match win streak that included four sweeps against conference rivals.
Despite their recent success, the Buccaneers struggled against San Jacinto, committing 16 errors in the first set alone. In the second set, as Blinn committed 17 more errors.
“We just didn’t have everybody going at the same time,” coach Erin Mellinger said. “We had a pretty good game plan, we just made too many errors.”
Freshman middle blocker Bruna Evangelista led the Bucs with 10 kills and sophomore outside hitter Ksenia Sukhareva finished with seven. Freshman setter Crystal Young had 19 kills and added four kills in five attempts.
Mellinger said right-side hitter Tyanna Roy was another bright spot, particularly on defense, where she helped to contain San Jacinto middle blocker Oni Lattin.
“Tyanna put some balls away, did some stuff we haven’t had anybody do in a while and she really blocked well,” Mellinger said. “She truly shut down Lattin.”
Blinn’s (15-5, 4-2) only Region XIV Conference losses this season have both come at the hands of San Jacinto.
Blinn travels to Corsicana on Friday to face Navarro at 6 p.m., then plays its first home match in about a month on Oct. 9 when Lee College comes to town for a 6 p.m. tilt.
For more information on Blinn volleyball, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
