[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ BLUE DRAGONS SPORTS INFORMATION ]

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community College Volleyball team hit better than .300 in a dominant first set over No. 11 Seward County on Wednesday Night at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons wound up hitting just .109 the rest of the way and the first meeting of the season between the reigning Region VI champion Dragons and Jayhawk West champion Saints went to Seward County in four sets.

The Blue Dragons, who fell out of the NJCAA rankings earlier on Wednesday, fell 25-12, 19-25, 16-25, 14-25 to fall to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the Jayhawk West. Seward County improves to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the West. Hutchinson plays next on Monday against Dodge City at 6:30 p.m. in the Sports Arena.

In contrast, Seward County hit .030 in the first set, but cranked things up in sets 2, 3 and 4 with .339 hitting.

Sophomore Elena Takova had nine kills on 21 swings (.190 attack percent) to lead the Blue Dragons, who finished the match hitting .109 to Seward’s .268.

Freshman Eden Hiebert finished with seven kills on .121 hitting with eight digs and two block assists. Freshman Tara Davis added a season-high six kills, hitting .500, with a service ace and four block assists. Freshman Lauren Willson came off the bench to provide a spark with five kills on .238 hitting.

Sophomore setter Payton Gawith had her first career double-double with 12 assists and a career-best 11 digs. Sophomore Cassidy Crites added 11 assists and five digs.

Sophomore libero Raychel Reed had a team-high 19 digs.

The Blue Dragons couldn’t slow down the three-pronged attack of Giovanna Tapigliani, Luz Sierra and Djuly Schmorantz. Those three players combined for 47 of Seward County’s 57 total kills.

The Blue Dragons were out-blocked 5-4.