BLUE DRAGONS 1-1 AT McCOOK AFTER LOSS TO AMARILLO

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

McCOOK, Nebraska – Match No. 2 of the McCook Labor Day Tournament was a struggle for the Hutchinson Community College volleyball team on Friday at the Graff Events Center.

Fresh off a four-set win over tournament host McCook, Amarillo out-hit the Blue Dragons by 15 kills in a sweep of Hutchinson. The Blue Dragons lost 25-20, 25-13, 25-23.

Hutchinson (2-3) will play Lamar at 9 a.m. on Saturday and North Platte at 3 p.m. on Saturday to close out the two-day tournament in Nebraska.

The Blue Dragons hit .143 against Amarillo. They were out-hit 42-32, out-blocked 7-3 and out-aced at the service line 7-3.

Outside hitter Alondra Villanueva had a team-high nine kills on 24 swings and hit .167 to lead Hutchinson. She added nine digs.

Jaylynn McNeill had six kills on .250 hitting and setting Alexandra Garcia finished with five kills on eight attacks (.375 hitting percentage).

Garcia finished with 18 set assists and Angela Reupena had nine assists. Libero Clara Oliveira had a team-high 15 digs. Lauren Vazquez, Garcia and McKenzye Williamson all had ace serves.

Set 1: Tied at 6-all in the opening set, Amarillo started to consistently keep the Blue Dragons out of system. A 4-0 Amarillo run gave it a 10-6 lead. The Dragons tied the set at 12 on a Garcia setter dump for a kill and a Proctor kill. Amarillo responded with three kills to open an 18-14 lead and prompt a Dragon timeout. Amarillo had 13 kills and three aces to defeat Hutchinson 25-20 in the first set.

Set 2: The Blue Dragons hit .000 in the second set with six kills and six attack errors on 28 attacks. Amarillo took charge of set early building a 9-2 lead. Matt Galliher had a free ball drop for a kill to pull the Blue Dragons with 15-9, but Amarillo scored on the next eight rallies to open a 23-9 lead. The Dragons dropped the set 25-14.

Set 3: A Villanueva kill gave Hutchinson a 4-2 lead, but Amarillo raced past the Dragons with a 5-0 run. Amarillo then opened leads of 12-7, 15-9 and 19-12. The Dragons then mounted a comeback to try and extend the match. A double block by Galliher and McNeill started an 8-1 run to pull within 22-20. A Proctor kill and Amarillo attack error pulled the Dragons within 24-23, but Amarillo closed out the set and the match.