Five Blinn College volleyball players – including four freshmen – earned all-conference recognition this season while leading the Buccaneers to a 25-7 record, head coach Erin Mellinger announced today.
Freshmen Bruna Evangelista, Crystal Young and Tyanna Roy earned first-team honors while sophomore Cara Fisher and freshman Emily Salter were named to the second team. Evangelista was named the co-offensive player of the year and was selected for the all-Region XIV Tournament team, and Young was the conference’s setter of the year.
“I’m really excited about this year’s freshman class,” Mellinger said. “We still have a lot to learn, but I’m looking forward to the future.”
Evangelista, a 6-1 middle blocker from Brazil, led the Buccaneers with 222 kills and 80 blocks on the season, good for 2.96 kills and 1.07 blocks per set. She hit .353 on the season.
“I don’t think you could have asked for any more out of that girl,” Mellinger said. “She was our largest contributor in every sense.”
Young, a 5-11 setter from Clearbrook High School, set the tone for the Buccaneer offense with 711 assists (8.17 per set). She added 61 kills on the year (0.7 per set) and 37 blocks.
“I can’t ask for anything more from a setter,” Mellinger said. “Crystal performed every time she stepped onto the floor.”
Roy, a 6-0 outside hitter from Hayward, Calif., was the Bucs’ second-leading hitter with 173 kills on the season (2.14 per set). She ranked third on the team with 153 digs (1.89 per set) and 42 blocks (0.52 per set).
“She’s had the ability all year to be a six-rotation player,” Mellinger said. “She was willing to do whatever the team needed her to do and do a good job.”
Fisher, a 5-3 libero from Manvel, ranked second on the team with 203 digs (3.27 per set). She transferred to Blinn from the University of New Mexico.
“Cara is going to be missed,” Mellinger said. “She carried our serve receive.”
Salter, a 6-2 middle blocker out of Kingwood Park High School, recorded 132 kills (1.86 per set) and 52 blocks (0.73 per set) while hitting .365 this season.
“She contributed every single game,” Mellinger said. “She’s just going to get better and better, and I absolutely love that girl.”
This year marked Mellinger’s first season as the Buccaneers’ head coach.
For more information on Blinn volleyball, visit www.buccaneersports.com.