DRAGONS OPEN CLASSIC WITH SWEEP OF CENTRAL CC

Libero Shelby Reeder had 16 digs and three service aces in Hutchinson's 3-0 sweep of Central Community College in the first match of the Blue Dragon Volleyball Classic on Friday at the Sports Arena. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

February 19, 2021

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Outside hitters Jenna Thorne and Shadee Briggs posted double-doubles as the Hutchinson Community College won their third match in a row on Friday in the opening match of the 2021 Blue Dragon Volleyball Classic at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons earned their sixth sweep of the season in a 25-17, 25-12, 25-20 victory over Central (Nebraska) Community College. The Blue Dragons improve to 9-5.

Thorne had had her ninth double-double of the season with12 kills and digs. She hit .375 for the match and had three ace serves.

Briggs posted her fourth double-double with 12 kills and 15 digs on .360 hitting.

Freshman Taegen Larson hit .294 with six kills and six block assists.

The Blue Dragons had 34 kills eight team blocks and eight service aces. The Raider had 21 kills, three blocks and four assists.

Chloe Price finished with 28 assists, two kills and an ace. Shelby Reeder had a match-high 16 digs with three ace serves. Kristina Head had three kills, four blocks and an ace.

Jordan Wegner had nine kills to lead Central.

The Blue Dragons trailed 5-3 in the opening set when Thorne had a couple of kills and Price added an ace in a 7-1 run to lead 10-6. Kristina Head had an ace and kill in a four-point Hutch run to build a 16-8 lead. Thorne notched a kill for a 20-11 Dragon lead. Head got the kill on set point as Hutch out-hit Central 14-11 in the opening set, a 25-17 win.

Thorne had two early aces as Hutchinson jumped out to a 6-1 lead. Leading 11-5, the Dragons went on a 12-2 run after a Larson/Myracle Lettries double block to build a 23-7 lead. Central scored 5 of the next 6 points before Briggs finished off the set with a kill. The Dragons out-hit Central 10-5 and added three aces and two blocks in the set.

The Blue Dragons had another fast start in the third set. Back-to-back Reeder service aces capped an 11-2 start to the set. The Raiders climbed back in the set at 17-11 with consecutive aces by Michaela Dukes. Briggs broke that run with three-straight kills for a 21-11 lead. The Raiders won 7 of the next 9 rallies to pull within 23-19. The Dragons finished off the match with consecutive Central service errors.