BLUE DRAGONS EARN WEST ROAD SWEEP AT PRATT

Eden Hiebert had nine kills and 18 digs to lead the No. 17 Blue Dragons to a 3-0 win over Pratt on Monday night at Pratt. (Casey Bailey/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

September 3, 2018

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

PRATT – The Hutchinson Community College volleyball team struggled for two sets before finally finishing off a Jayhawk West road sweep on Monday night at Pratt.

No. 17 Hutchinson didn't have a great offensive night, but had enough to defeat Pratt 3-0 (25-23, 28-26, 25-12) at the Dennis Lesh Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons even their season record at 3-3 and are 2-0 in the Jayhawk West heading into Wednesday's showdown with No. 7 Seward County at the Sports Arena. Pratt falls to 3-8 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

The Dragons allowed 16 points in the first two sets on errors, but dominated the third set.

Freshman Eden Hiebert nearly had her first career double-double with nine kills and a career-best 18 digs. Hiebert added one solo block and two block assists in the match.

Freshman Lauren Willson played in two sets and had a season-high seven kills on a team-high .375 hitting off the bench. Hydeah Hinesman also came off the bench to add a pair of kills and added one solo block and four assist blocks.

Elena Takova and Lexi Hogan had five kills each.

Sophomore setter Cassidy Crites had her third double-double of the season with 13 assists and 11 digs. Payton Gawith had 11 assists and Eboni Sapien had six assists in one set played.

Sophomore Libero Raychel Reed had 18 digs while freshman Baylee Beck had 10 digs.

Set 1: The Blue Dragons got off to a good start in the opening set with leads of 4-2, 8-3 and 11-6. But Pratt answered with a four-point run to pull within 11-10. A Hogan kill snapped that run and the Dragons rebuild a 15-10 lead after another Hogan kill. Pratt battled back and took a 21-20 lead. Tied at 23, Hogan had a kill and Pratt ended the set with an attack error.

Set 2: Pratt led 8-7 before Willson came off the bench in the second set to spark the Dragons. Her kill started a 5-1 run as Hutch built a 12-9 lead after a Hiebert kill on an overpass. Hutch led 15-10, but the Beavers went on a 10-2 run to lead 20-17. A Hinesman solo block started a 6-0 Dragon run and a Willson kill gave Hutch a 23-10 lead. Pratt scored two straight and caught a break when a potential Dragon point was reversed on a replay call by the officials. Hutch missed on three set points, but a Willson kill on set point No. 4 gave the Dragons a 2-0 match lead.

Set 3: Hutchinson led 7-4 and took control with a 9-2 run. Back-to-back blocks from Hinesman and Hiebert helped Hutchinson build a 16-6 lead. Back-to-back Pratt errors bumped the Dragon lead to 20-8. A Willson kill and Tara Davis service ace finish off the set and the match.