(HCC Sports Information)

During its run of Region VI championships, the Caribbean Tan Classic has been a springboard leading into the final month of the season for the Hutchinson Community College volleyball team.

Since 2005, the Lady Dragons have had a .625 winning percentage following the Caribbean Tan Classic. Regional titles and subsequent national placings at the NJCAA Tournament followed in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009.

The Lady Dragons hope the same will follow as 2011 Caribbean Tan Classic is contested Friday and Saturday at the Sports Arena.

CARIBBEAN TAN CLASSIC INFORMATION
When: Friday, Saturday, September 23-24, 2011
At: Hutchinson Sports Arena
Friday match times: Noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m.
Saturday match times: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m.
Internet: All four HCC matches will be streamed live on the Blue Dragon Sports Arena.
Score updates: Match scored will be updated at completion of the match.
Admission: Adults $5; Kids (8th grade and under) $4 unless accompanied by a paying adult; HCC Students free with student ID.

Hutchinson’s road through the 2011 Caribbean Tan Classic will be rugged. HCC opens with No. 14 Seminole State, which knocked off Division II, No. 1 Cowley earlier this week. Missouri juco power Jefferson College will round out Day 1 for Hutch. On Saturday, Missouri State University-West Plains, which is receiving votes in the latest NJCAA poll, and Frank Phillips College will be the Lady Dragons opponents.

Pratt, Cloud County and No. 19 New Mexico Military round out the eight-team field for the 2011 Classic.

Hutchinson meets Seminole State, Jefferson College and West Plains for the first time this season. The Lady Dragons dropped a five-set match to Frank Phillips College on Sept. 3 at El Reno, Okla.

Hutchinson’s record entering the 2011 Caribbean Tan Classic isn’t indicative of the level of play the improving Lady Dragons have exhibited.

HCC is 1-5 in its last six matches and all five losses have been against nationally ranked competition.

On Wednesday, HCC dropped a five-set thriller at No. 17 Seward County. With the exception of only a couple of sets over this six-match run, the Lady Dragons pushed their opponents to the limit, including taking the 17th-ranked Saints to the limit on Wednesday night.

(HCC Sports Information)

2011 CARIBBEAN TAN CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, September 23
West Court    
Noon – Hutchinson vs. Seminole State
2 p.m. – Cloud County vs. Jefferson College
4 p.m. – Cloud County vs. New Mexico Military
6 p.m. – Hutchinson vs. Jefferson College

East Court
Noon – Missouri State-West Plains vs. New Mexico Military
2 p.m. – Pratt vs. Frank Phillips College
4 p.m. – Pratt vs. Missouri State-West Plains
6 p.m. – Seminole State vs. Frank Phillips College

Saturday, September 24
West Court    
9 a.m. – Pratt vs. Seminole State
11 a.m. – Hutchinson vs. Missouri State-West Plains
1 p.m. – New Mexico Military vs. Seminole State
3 p.m. – Hutchinson vs. Frank Phillips College

East Court
9 a.m. – New Mexico Military vs. Jefferson College
11 a.m. – Cloud County vs. Frank Phillips College
1 p.m. – Pratt vs. Jefferson College
3 p.m. – Missouri State-West Plains vs. Cloud County