Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College Volleyball Team will play its third Top 5-nationally ranked opponent on Saturday when the Blue Dragons travel to No. 3 Seward County to close out the regular season.

The match will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Seward County's Green House. Seward County Sports Information will provide the videostream at 6:30 p.m. Fans can also get updates on the Blue Dragon Twitter account @bluedragonsport.

All that is really at stake on Saturday will be if Seward County completes its Jayhawk West season undefeated. The Saints clinched the conference championship outright after a four-set victory over Colby on Wednesday in Liberal. The Saints are riding a 16-match winning streak into the final match of the regular season with a 30-1 overall record.

The Blue Dragons, who are on a four-match winning streak are firmly sitting in second place and will be the second seed for next week's Region VI Tournament. The 24-11 Blue Dragons haven't played since a sweep of Pratt on October 20 at the Sports Arena.

Seward County defeated Hutchinson in four sets at the Sports Arena on September 27 in a match where neither team played particularly well. The Saints out-hit Hutchinson .250-.085 and out-blocked the Blue Dragons 10-8. Seward also out-played the Dragons on the back line out-digging Hutch 103-66.

Seward County had five players with seven or more kills and three in double figures led by Mariana Nascimento's 15 kills on .538 hitting. Tatyana Ndekwe had eight kills to lead Hutchinson.

Hutchinson's Page Hiebert leads the Jayhawk West at 4.19 kills per set and total kills at 511. Right behind her is Seward County's Giovana Tapigliani at 3.54 kills per set and 382 total kills.

Nascimento is the league leader in attack percentage at .455. Setter Giovanna Kuntze leads at 10.59 assists per set and Luz Sierra is the league' top blocker at 1.51 blocks per set.

The Blue Dragons are averaging 12.42 kills per set on .243 hitting as a team. Hutchinson is averaging 2.01 blocks, 15.82 digs and 1.39 aces per set.

Seward County is averaging 14.24 kills per set on .297 hitting. The Saints are averaging 2.27 blocks, 16.94 digs, and 2.28 aces per set.

Hutchinson will play Dodge City in the opening round of the Region VI Tournament on Tuesday at the Sports Arena. Seward County will play Pratt. The four first-round winners will play in the Region VI semifinals on Sunday, November 5 in Liberal.