STERLING, Colo. – Freshman outside hitter Teresa Wade had a combined 23 kills as the Hutchinson Community College volleyball team earned its second victory of the season over a nationally ranked team in winning a pair of matches on Saturday at the NJC/Pizza Hut Classic.

In the first match on Saturday morning, the Lady Dragons used nine service aces and six team blocks to decisively win two sets from No. 19 Northeastern Junior College in winning 25-13, 18-25, 25-22, 25-12. The Lady Dragons then hit .266 as a team to sweep past Lamar Community College 25-22, 25-11, 25-11 to finish the weekend in Sterling at 3-1. The only loss was against No. 4 Western Nebraska on Friday.

Hutchinson is now 9-3 heading a five-match stretch this coming week.

NORTHEASTERN RECAP
Six different Lady Dragons had at least five kills as Hutchinson knocked off the No. 19 Plainsmen in four sets, winning the first and fourth sets decisively.

The victory was Hutchinson’s second of 2012 over a nationally ranked opponent. The Lady Dragons also defeated No. 11 Seminole State on opening weekend. It’s the first time since 2009 that the Lady Dragons have more than one win over a nationally ranked opponent.

HCC hit .179 as a team, but was strong from the service line and at the net. Sophomore Scout Heizer led HCC with three service aces.

Wade finished with 14 kills to lead the Lady Dragons offensively. She posted her fourth double-double of the season, adding 10 digs.

Colorado native Kayla Karmazyn hit .353 with eight kills on 17 swings. Sophomores Gabby Rushton and Jade Nelson had six kills each, while sophomore Shayne Haley and freshman Megan Heier had five kills each.

Heizer had 21 set assists to lead the Lady Dragons. Sophomore Ashlyn Westerman had 19 assists. Freshman Samantha Lackey had a team-high 18 digs. Freshman libero Taylor Karcher had 12.

LAMAR RECAP
The Lady Dragons made it three-straight victories over teams from the state of Colorado in their final match on Saturday. HCC hit .266 as a team with nine service aces and eight team blocks as HCC swept their sixth opponent of the season, knocking off Lamar in three sets.

HCC hit just .063 (nine kills, seven attack errors) in a first set where the Lady Dragons struggled to put Lamar away. That all changed in the second set as HCC was nearly perfect, hitting .917 (11 kills, 0 errors, 12 attacks) and rolled Lamar 25-11.

Wade hit .412 on nine kills to lead the Lady Dragons. Karmazyn and Nelson had five kills each.

Heizer had 17 assists and four service aces. Westerman added 13 assists. Karcher led HCC with 12 digs. Lackey had 11.

Hutchinson will be at Garden City at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday for a Jayhawk West contest. The Lady Dragons then play host to the Lady Dragon Invitational on Friday and Saturday at the Sports Arena.

(HCC Sports Information)