HutchCC Sports Information

ROSWELL, N.M. – Opening Day 2017 was a tale of two completely different matches for the Hutchinson Community College volleyball team on Friday at the New Mexico Military Invitational.

Playing primarily in system in the first match of the day, the Blue Dragons rolled by South Mountain 3-0. Against Eastern Arizona College, it was the reserve for Hutchinson. Most of the time out of system of a tough-serving Gila Monster team, the Blue Dragons lost in three sets to finish Day 1 with a 1-1 record.

The Blue Dragons defeated Pima 25-18, 25-17, 25-23 in Match 1 and then fell 25-21, 25-16, 25-19. Hutchinson will have a quick turnaround with two morning matches on Saturday – 9 a.m. (CT) against Pima and 11 a.m. (CT) against host New Mexico Military. That match will be streamed by NMMI.

SOUTH MOUNTAIN RECAP
Three Blue Dragons hit better than .400 as Hutchinson rolled past South Mountain.

Sophomore Page Hiebert had a team-high 11 kills on .421 hitting in the season opener. Sophomore Nina Pevic had seven kills on .538 hitting and Tatyana Ndekwe finished with seven kills on .417 hitting.

Sophomore setter Katie Jorn finished with 19 assists and eight digs. Freshman setter Cassidy Crites had 11 assists.

Freshman libero Claira Creach finished with 11 digs while sophomore McKenna Sullivan had eight digs.

EASTERN ARIZONA RECAP
Facing a much tougher serving team, Hutch's passing struggled against the Gila Monsters and the hitting percentages plummeted from the opening match.

Only freshman Leonie Wienkaemper finished with a strong hitting percentage of .536 on five kills. Wienkaemper also finished with a team-high three blocks.

Sullivan had a team-high seven kills and Hiebert finished with six. Jorn had 11 assists and Payton Gawith had five assists and a team-high 11 digs. Patricia Joseph added three blocked for the Blue Dragons.