DRAGON TURNAROUND FUELS SPLIT IN TYLER

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

TYLER, Texas – The Hutchinson Community College women's volleyball team's mid-season struggles continues on Friday on Day 1 of the TJC Invitational – for a while at least.

After being swept by Blinn College on Friday, the Blue Dragons were rolled in the opening set by Hill College. Then sophomore Elena Takova came to life offensively and carried the Blue Dragons to a three-straight set wins to capture the match and move back to .500.

Blinn College downed Hutchinson 25-21, 25-20, 25-19 to start the day. The Blue Dragons rebounded to knock off Hill 14-25, 25-19, 25-22, 27-25.

The Blue Dragons are 9-9 heading into Saturday matches against North Central Texas at 9 a.m. and Monroe College at 11 a.m.

HILL COLLEGE
Takova hit .424 against the Rebels with 16 kills and two errors on 33 swings.

Sophomore Lexi Hogan had eight kills and freshman Eden Hiebert had five kills and 11 digs.

Sophomore setter Cassidy Crites had 23 assists and sophomore Payton Gawith had 11 assists. Sophomore Raychel Reed had 19 digs.

The Blue Dragons totaled 10 total blocks and eight total service aces.

BLINN COLLEGE
Crites and Hogan led the way offensively against Blinn in a match with numerous attack and service reception errors.

Crites posted her seventh double-double of the season with a career-high 10 kills and 16 set assists. Crites hit a career-best .473 with 10 kills and one error on 19 attacks.

Hogan hit .471 on nine kills. Tara Davis was next with three kills.

Ebony Sapien had 11 assists and Reed had 12 digs.