Hutchinson CC Sports Information

STERLING, Colorado – The opening day of the Northeastern Junior College/Sheila Worley Invitational had mixed results for the No. 17-ranked Hutchinson Community College Volleyball Team on Friday.

The Blue Dragons opened play with a 25-20, 25-17, 25-17 sweep of Casper College at the Bank of Colorado Events Center. After capturing a back-and-forth opening set with No. 5 Western Nebraska, The Cougars dominated the final three sets as Hutchinson fell 26-24, 19-25, 16-25, 14-25 late Friday evening.

Hutchinson is now 14-4 overall. The Blue Dragons play two more ranked teams on Saturday in Colorado with No. 4 Indian Hills at 1:30 p.m. CT and No. 19 Northeastern Junior College at approximately 4:30 p.m.

CASPER RECAP
The Blue Dragons earned their second victory over Casper this season with the 3-0 victory on Friday. Hutchinson also defeated Casper at the SOCO Classic two weeks ago in Trinidad, Colorado.

Freshman Taniya Golden led the Blue Dragons offensively with 12 kills. Sophomore Sophie Connor and freshman Anna Dean had six kills each.

The Blue Dragons had a strong service game with 10 aces in the match. Freshman Perrine Blanc had a season-high six aces, while freshman Alejandra Briseno had three aces.

The Blue Dragons also had 12 team blocks. Dean and freshman Giovanna Ravenhani had three blocks each.

Defensively, sophomore Morgan Harvey led with eight digs. Connor and Perrine had six digs each.

WESTERN NEBRASKA RECAP
The Cougars were Hutchinson's sixth ranked opponent in the first three weeks of the season and the third Top-5 foe.

Hutchinson took the first set 26-24, but serve receive problems in the final three sets kept the Dragons out of system and the Cougars took advantage with three convincing set victories.

Golden led the Blue Dragons once again offensively with 11 kills. Dean finished with six kills and two blocks. Connor had five kills.

Sophomore setter Andrea Serrano had 20 assists.

Blanc led the Dragons from the back row with nine digs. Serrano also had nine digs. Harvey and sophomore Baylee Miller added eight digs. Miller chipped in two aces.

The Dragons had seven team blocks and six aces against Western Nebraska.