HCC Sports Information

Monday, September 26, 2016

LIBERAL – Seward County racked up six stuff blocks and nine service aces in the final two sets Monday night to power a comeback and defeat the Hutchinson Community College volleyball team in five sets in a huge Jayhawk West match at the Green House.

The Blue Dragons dropped their second Jayhawk West match of the season after a 25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 20-25, 11-15 loss to the Saints. Hutchinson falls to 11-7 overall and 6-2 in the Jayhawk West. Seward County improves 15-5 overall and takes over sole possession of first place in the conference at 7-1. Hutchinson and Seward County split their season series.

The difference in the match came at the net and from the service line. Seward County out-blocked Hutchinson 15-8; the 15 blocks were an opponent season high. The 13 service aces allowed were also an opponent season high. The Saints produced 11 more aces than Hutchinson.

Leading the match 2-1, the Blue Dragons tied the fourth set at 20 on a Page Hiebert kill. After a Seward County timeout, the Saints reeled off five straight points to tie the match, the final two points coming on service aces.

Leading 6-4 in the fifth, the Blue Dragons allowed a five-run Saints’ scoring run and another four-point run fueled by three more aces and a pair of blocks to take control of the match at 13-8.

Hiebert led the Blue Dragons with 12 kills on .176 hitting. Nadine Cruz and Kyann Eslick both had 11 kills. Eslick hit .287, while Cruz hit .258.

Setter Katie Jorn had 26 assists and nine digs. Setter Nicole Rutherford had 17 assists and eight digs.

Mine Cetinoz had 15 digs and Kelsey Mulligan had 13 digs. Hinalei Fihaki led Hutch’s block with three total stuffs, including two solo blocks. Patricia Joseph had four block assists. Eslick had four total blocks with one solo.

 

Photo courtesy bluedragonsports.com