By Steve Carpenter
Blue Dragon Sports Information Director
When asked to analyze the Hutchinson Community College volleyball team's overall play in 2023, head coach Delice Downing hit upon several key points that came up as negatives.
Point 1 – A Lack of consistent passing, which doesn't allow team to transition from defense to offense effectively and not push a middle attack.
Point 2 – Feeding the outside hitters almost exclusively and not utilizing a middle attack.
Point 3 – Production from the right-side hitters.
Point 4 – Keeping the middles active.
BLUE DRAGON VOLLEYBALL
Iowa Western Reiver Classic
2024 Season-Opening Weekend
When: Friday-Saturday, August 23-24
Where: Iowa Western CC, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Hutchinson Matches
Friday - Noon: Jefferson College (Video link)
Friday - 2 p.m.: Iowa Western (Video Link)
Saturday - 9 a.m.: No. 3 Northeastern JC (No video)
Saturday - 11 a.m.: Western Nebraska (No video)
Video: Reiver Sports Network
X: @bluedragonsport
With those issues in mind, Downing hit the recruiting trail looking to shore up those deficiencies.
"I think we've got the pieces," said the fifth-year Blue Dragon head coach whose team opens the 2024 this weekend at the Iowa Western Reiver Tournament in Council Bluffs, Iowa. "Recruiting is always important, but this year it was extra important. We are going to be very young this year. We are very athletic. We're hungry. Now its going to be about getting them to play smart and buy into the process."
The Blue Dragons open the 2024 season with four stern tests from traditional NJCAA volleyball powers in Jefferson College, Iowa Western, No. 3 Northeastern Junior College and Western Nebraska this weekend.
Just one starter and three reserves return from last season's 24-15 Blue Dragon team that finished fourth in the KJCCC with an 11-5 conference mark. The Blue Dragons were upset in five sets in the opening round of the Region 6 Tournament by Dodge City.
Hutchinson is picked to finish fifth this season in the annual preseason KJCCC Coaches' Poll.
The 2023 Blue Dragons hit .210 as a team and averaged 11.53 kills per set. Defensively, the Dragons averaged 15.18 digs and 2.45 blocks per set.
The lone returning starter is 5-foot-10 middle blocker McKenzie Murphy, who hit .293 on 1.26 kills per set. Murphy averaged 1.07 blocks per set in earning all-KJCCC postseason honors as a freshman.
"Kenzie has the most experience coming back," said Downing, who is 87-53 in her first four seasons with the Blue Dragons. "We have to get better at utilizing the middle. Kenzie is explosive and we have other middles who can be effective. Now we have to work to get them the ball."
Sophomore setter Shelbi Wilson saw limited action in 19 matches last season. She averaged 2.86 assists and 1.17 digs per set. Also back is setter Ryleigh Stuhlsatz and middle Precious Johnson. In limited playing time, Stuhlsatz averaged 0.41 assists per set. Johnson hit .063 and 0.62 kills and 0.86 blocks per set.
Now to the pieces Downing searched for in the recruiting process.
To improve the Dragons' passing, Derby freshman Addy Foster is slated to be the starting libero.
"We wanted to find a libero who can take a lot of seams, take a lot of court and we think we found that in Addy Foster," Downing said. "She is long in the back row and very scrappy."
In addition to Foster in the back row will be freshman Siani Sanchez and setter-turned-defensive specialist Beatriz Carvalho.
To pick up production on the right pin, Downing is excited to see how 5-foot-10 transfer Tiana Simmons fits into the rotation. Simmons, who is an instate high school product from Blue Valley High School, did not play at Chaminade University last season.
"When you have a dominant right-side hitter, the game changes," Downing said. "Merritt Beason at Nebraska can dominant from the right side and it changes the game for them. We think we have that in Tiana Simmons. She definitely going to open the court up more for us."
Downing is also excited to see the development of freshman outside hitter Atlan Proctor, who is an athletic, dynamic hitter from western Canada.
The 2024 Blue Dragons also have some versatile players who will swing between the middle and right side in sophomore transfer Genavi Oyoyo (Texas-El Paso) and freshman Kierny Follmer. Also look for freshman outside hitters Viktoria Graf, Priscilla Raschen and Brooke Galey as well as freshman setters Ellie Suber and Angela Rupena to make runs for playing time.
Now Downing wants to take those pieces and put together the best rotations possible.
"We are looking for the right core of girls who can play together and be ready for what's to come," Downing said. "This weekend will be a great tournament to do that in. We want to become a family and we want to mature."
The Blue Dragons have an odd schedule this season where the first 16 matches they play will all be on the road. Hutchinson doesn't open at the Sports Arena until September 18 against Dodge City.
"That time is going to be about the growth of our team," Downing said. "By the time we finally play at home, we are going to have a lot of things worked out."