BLUE DRAGONS DROP SEASON OPENER TO SALT LAKE

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The Hutchinson Community College volleyball team got off to a great start in the 2025 season opener at the Reiver Classic.

The Blue Dragons hit .480 in an opening-set 25-22 victory over Region 18 power Salt Lake Community College on Friday. But Salt Lake slowly turned the tables on the Blue Dragons in the second set and then dominated the third and fourth sets at Reiver Arena as Hutchinson dropped the opening match of the season to the Bruins 25-22, 19-25, 16-25, 16-25.

Led by sophomore Atlyn Proctor's six kills on .625 hitting, four digs and service ace, the Blue Dragons rallied from a pair of three-point deficits in the opening set to defeat Salt Lake. The Dragons tallied 12 kills and only two errors on 25 attacks in the opening set. The Dragons also had two blocks and three aces in the first set.

The second set was tied at 16-16 when Salt Lake started to pull away. The Bruins led 21-18 after a 6-2 run and closed the set on a 9-3 run to even the match at a set each.

Salt Lake, which was playing its second match of the day, rolled in the third and fourth sets, holding the Blue Dragons to .048 hitting in the third set and a negative .030 in the fourth set.

Sophomore pin hitter Alondra Villanueva led the Blue Dragons with 12 kills on 42 attacks and eight digs. Proctor posted her 21st career match of double-figure kills with 10 on 28 swings. She added three aces and six digs. Sophomore Jaylynn McNeill had six kills and sophomore Kierny Follmer had four kills.

Sophomore setter Angela Reupena had 36 assists in her first career start.

Freshman Clara Oliveira had a team-high 15 digs and freshman McKenzye Williamson had 12 digs.

The Blue Dragons played Iowa Western later Friday evening in the tournament's primetime match.