DRAGONS SNAP 5-SET SKID IN A PAIR OF WINS AT TYLER

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

TYLER, Texas – The Hutchinson Community College volleyball team needed a late rally to pull off something that hadn't been done in two seasons on Saturday at the TJC Invitational at Tyler Junior College.

The Blue Dragons were two points away from dropping another five set match in their Tyler finale against Monroe College, a 2017 NJCAA Tournament participant. The Dragons turned things around by winning 7 of the match's final 8 rallies to defeat the Mustangs 21-25, 25-23, 25-27, 25-22, 16-14, finishing off the weekend off with a 3-1 record.

Earlier on Saturday, the Blue Dragons defeated North Central Texas 25-13, 25-20, 20-25, 25-21. On Friday, the Dragons were swept by Blinn College, but then upset No. 9 Hill College in four sets.

The five-set win over Monroe was Hutchinson's first five-set win of the season in four tries. The victory also snapped a seven-match losing streak that dated back to two seasons ago. The Blue Dragons are 11-9 overall heading into a Jayhawk West home match on Wednesday against Pratt.

MONROE RECAP
Hutchinson lost the first set and trailed 2-1 after three sets before hitting .452 in the fourth set to tie the match. Monroe led the fifth set 13-9 before a kill started the improbable comeback. The Dragons needed a kill, two blocks and an ace to tie the match at 13. Hutch had another ace to make to 15-14 before a kill ended the run of 7 Dragon points in the final 8 rallies.

The Blue Dragons hit .315 for the match, the second-highest team hitting percentage in a five-set match in team history. It's only the second time the Blue Dragons have hit .300 or better in a five-set match.

Hutchinson racked up 61 total kills, 12 total blocks and eight services aces against the Mustangs.

Lexi Hogan produced a career-high 17 kills on .483 hitting with three errors on 29 swings. Hogan also had three solo blocks, five total blocks and six digs to lead Hutchinson.

Eden Hiebert had 15 kills and hit .412 with 17 digs and three block assists. Hiebert posted her third double-double of the season. Elena Takova had 11 kills on .167 hitting with five digs and two blocks.

Setter Payton Gawith had her fourth double-double of the season with 25 assists and 10 digs. Eboni Sapien had 19 assists and Cassidy Crites added 10 assists, 10 kills, four digs and two blocks.

Libero Raychel Reed had 13 digs and Claira Creach had 11 digs.

NORTH CENTRAL RECAP
The Blue Dragons hit .300 or better in the three sets they won and hit .000 in the lone set dropped in a four-set victory over North Central Texas.

Hogan led the Dragons with 12 kills on .219 hitting. Takova had 10 kills and hit .308. Hiebert added seven kills.

The Blue Dragons hit .270 for the match with 44 kills. Hutch also had nine service aces and 11 team blocks.

Crites had 24 set assists to go with five kills, five digs and two blocks.

Reed had 18 digs and Hiebert had 14.