BLUE DRAGONS GO 2-1 IN LARAMIE COUNTY INVITATIONAL
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
CHEYENNE, Wyoming – The Hutchinson Community College volleyball team didn't let a tough start to the Laramie County Classic ruin what turned out to be a pretty good day after all.
The day started with the Blue Dragons building a two-set lead over Eastern Wyoming, only to see the Lancers rally and stun Hutchinson in five sets. The Blue Dragons rebounded from the setback with a pair of sweeps of Trinidad State and North Platte Community College to go 2-1 in the LCCC Invitational.
Hutchinson lost to Eastern Wyoming 25-22, 25-21, 24-26, 27-25, 15-17 in its first match played at LCCC's Storey Gym. The change of venues must have helped the Blue Dragons. Hutch swept Trinidad State 25-18, 25-8, 25-16 and North Platte 25-20, 25-14, 25-16 at Cheyenne East High School.
The Blue Dragons are above the .500 mark for the first time this season at 3-2. Hutchinson will play host to the Barton Cougars at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Sports Arena in a Jayhawk West matchup.
EASTERN WYOMING RECAP
The Blue Dragons were four points away from a sweep of the Lancers when the opening match of the day started to slip away.
The Dragons won the first two sets and led 21-17 in the third when the Lancers rallied to win the set and dominate the fourth after a rotation error cost the Dragons a point at 12-12. EWC outscored Hutch 12-6 to force a fifth set.
Hutch trailed in the fifth by as many as four points and rallied to knot the set at 12-all. Eastern fought off the Dragons, winning the set 17-15.
Sophomore Jenna Thorne pounded down a career-high 20 kills to lead the Blue Dragons. Her previous career high was 18 last season against South Mountain. Freshman Kristina Head had 12 kills and one service ace.
Freshman Shelby Murrell, playing in her home town, had eight kills.
Sophomore setter Chloe Price had posted a double-double with a season-high 45 assists and 12 digs. Price was Hutch's leading setter with three total blocks. She added an ace.
Freshman libero Shelby Reeder had 19 assists and freshman Shadee Briggs had 12 digs.
This was the first time since Sept. 22, 2018 that the Blue Dragons dropped a five-set match after winning the first two sets.
TRINIDAD STATE RECAP
Murrell led the Blue Dragons in their sweep of the Trojans with a season-high nine kills and three block assists. Thorne and Head finished with seven kills each. Head added a pair of blocks.
Price finished with 25 assists and Reeder had 12 digs. Sophomore Myracle Lettries had three block assists and freshman Taegen Larson had two blocks.
NORTH PLATTE RECAP
Thorne paced the Blue Dragons against the Knights with 12 kills four digs and one solo block.
Briggs had seven kills, five digs and a solo block.
Price finished with 22 assists and two total blocks. Reeder had 12 digs.