April 12, 2012
Blinn’s Gerig signs with LSU
Sophomore setter a two-time junior college All-American
 Blinn College volleyball player Jackie Gerig has signed a letter of intent to bring her national championship skills to Louisiana State University.
Gerig earned National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honors while leading the Buccaneers to their second national championship in the last four years last season. Gerig also earned NJCAA All-America honors as a freshman, making her one of just two Buccaneers to earn All-America honors in both years of their career.
“Jackie is one of the best who have ever played at Blinn College,” said David Rehr, now the head coach at Arkansas State. “She is a major reason why we won the NJCAA national championship in 2011 and off the court you cannot ask for a better student athlete. I am proud to have coached her.”
Gerig finished third in the nation in assists with 1,137 (11.04 per set) this season and also posted 81 kills and 32 aces, good for a 41 percent hitting efficiency while leading Blinn to a perfect 38-0 record.
Gerig came to Blinn from Normal Community High School, where she earned all-conference honors her senior year and was an AAU All-American.
LSU has strung together seven consecutive Southeastern Conference Western Division titles, highlighted by the overall league championship in 2009. It's the second longest streak in SEC history. The Tigers have garnered a 159-55 record, secured six NCAA
Tournament appearances and notched 24 All-SEC selections since 2005.
March 21, 2012
Blinn names Mellinger new volleyball coach
Program’s fourth coach helped guide CSI to 2009 national title
 Erin Mellinger was named the fourth head volleyball coach of Blinn College by the Board of Trustees during its regular meeting Tuesday night.
Mellinger, who inherits a program that won its second national championship last season, comes to Blinn from the College of Southern Idaho (CSI), where she has been an assistant coach for the last five seasons. Mellinger helped guide CSI to a national championship in 2009 and a sixth-place finish at last season’s tournament. During her time there, the team made three national tournament appearances, won two Region 18 championships and posted an overall record of 148-48.
“I’m tremendously excited to continue Blinn College’s tradition of excellence, both on the court and in the classroom,” said Mellinger, who begins her duties at Blinn on Friday. “I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running and preparing for an exciting 2012 season.”
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.
“Erin’s history of success at the College of Southern Idaho and her head coaching accolades at Independence Community College make her the perfect fit for Blinn’s volleyball program and its tradition of excellence,” said Athletic Director Richard Speas.
Mellinger’s own collegiate playing career began in the junior college ranks with Treasure Valley (Ore.) Community College, where she helped the school reach the Scenic West Athletic Conference tournament for the first time in 19 years. A defensive specialist, she then transferred to Lewis-Clark for one season before concluding her career at Chicago State University.
Mellinger has a master’s degree in physical education and will teach kinesiology.
“We are proud to announce the hire of a coach with national championship experience who can continue to build upon the proud tradition our volleyball program has already established,” said Blinn College President Harold Nolte.
Mellinger replaces David Rehr, who left Blinn in January to become the head coach at Division I Arkansas State University. In nine seasons at Blinn, Rehr led the Buccaneers to eight national tournament appearances, including national championships in 2008 and 2011. During that span, the Buccaneers amassed a 313-35 record and produced 14 NJCAA All-Americans and 11 American Volleyball Coaching Association All-Americans.
Rehr was inducted into the NJCAA coaching hall of fame in 2011.
In its 16 seasons, the Buccaneer volleyball program has posted a 482-167 record, good for a .743 winning percentage.
2006 - 34-4 Overall Record
2005
- 34-5 Overall Record
2004 - 35-7 Overall Record
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Region
XIV Champions
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Region
XIV Tournament Champions
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 NJCAA
National Tournament
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As a member of the National Junior College Athletic
Association, the Buccaneers compete in the Region XIV Athletic Conference
and the Southwest Junior College Football Conference. In 1995 and 1996,
Blinn College made history by becoming the first college to win back-to-back
National Junior College Athletic Association football championships with
24 consecutive wins. Blinn added a third national title in 2006 following
a perfect 12-0 season. The Buccaneers compete in football, men’s
and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball. Complementing
the athletic teams are the Blinn Cheerleaders, the Buccaneer Treasures
Dance Team and the Blinn College Marching Band. All athletic teams are
located on the Brenham campus.