DRAGONS BACK TO .500 WITH SWEEP AT INDY

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

INDEPENDENCE – The Hutchinson Community College volleyball team overcame 29 combined attack and serving errors and net violations to even its record after a Jayhawk West sweep of Independence on Monday night at the ICC Fieldhouse.

Playing each other for the first time since 2000, Hutchinson defeated Independence 25-13, 25-15, 27-25. Independence moved into the Jayhawk West this season.

Hutchinson improves to 8-8 overall and is 6-2 at the mid-point of the Jayhawk West season. Independence falls to 5-13 overall and 3-6 in the conference.

Eden Hiebert and Lexi Hogan led the Blue Dragons with nine kills each. Chloe Partridge added eight kills and Elena Takova had six kills. Hiebert hit .444 and Hogan hit .412.

The Blue Dragons had 35 total kills, but had 12 attack errors, eight service errors and were called for nine net violations.

Hutchinson held its second opponent to negative hitting as the Pirates had 24 kills and 25 attack errors. The Pirates added 10 service errors.

Cassidy Crites had 11set assists, while Payton Gawith and Eboni Sapien had eight each. Libero Raychel Reed had a match-high 16 digs.

After dominating the first two sets, the Blue found themselves down 23-21 in the third set. Takova tied the set at 23 with a kill and ace serve. The Dragons then fought off a set point against with a back-row kill from Takova. Tied at 25, Hiebert had a kill and Crites and Hydeah Hinesman closed the match with a double block.

The Blue Dragons will next play in the TJC Classic in Tyler, Texas on Friday and Saturday.