GOLDEN’S 20 KILLS POWERS DRAGONS PAST GARDEN CITY

Taniya Golden had her third 20-kill match of the season to lead the Blue Dragon volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over Garden City on Monday at Garden City. (McKenzie Franklin/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

September 25, 2023

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

GARDEN CITY – Taniya Golden's third 20-kill match of the season paced the Hutchinson Community College volleyball team to a 3-1 Jayhawk Conference road victory over the Garden City Broncbusters on Monday night at Conestoga Arena.

The Blue Dragons improved to 15-7 overall and 6-1 in the Jayhawk Conference. Garden City is 13-8 overall and 3-4 in the league. The Blue Dragons play host to No. 20 Barton at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Sports Arena.

Golden hit .247 on her 20 kills, which included seven kills in the fourth set. Golden had her fifth 20-kill match of her career and her 14th double-double of the season with 13 digs. Golden had two service aces.

Sophomore middle blocker Anna Dean was the only other Blue Dragon in double figures in kills with 12. She also had a match-high seven blocks, including two solo blocks.

Freshman Callie Muff has seven kills and sophomore Ashlyn Long had five kills for the Dragons.

Sophomore setter Giovanna Ravanhani had her fourth double-double of the season with 43 assists and 12 digs. Ravanhani added four ace serves and three kills.

Freshman libero Alondra Velez had a season-high 22 digs. Freshman defensive specialist Isabella Rollandini had 14 digs.

The Blue Dragons had 10 service aces, but had to survive 11 Garden City aces.

SET 1: The Blue Dragons used a 10-point Alejandra Briseno service run to take complete control of the opening set. Leading 7-4, a Muff kill started the run. Dean had two kills and a block and Briseno ace serve gave the Dragons a 17-4 lead. Garden City scored 4 of the next 6 points to cut the Dragon lead to 19-9. Hutchinson closed out with a 6-3 run. Muff's kill on set point gave the Dragons a 25-12 victory. Golden and Muff had four kills each in the opening set.

SET 2: A Golden kill gave the Blue Dragons an early 5-4 lead, but Garden City took control of the set with a 10-1 run to build a 14-6 lead. The Dragons made several small runs after that. A Dean/Catalina Arce double block pulled the Dragons within 14-9. Golden's kill got the Dragons within 19-14. Garden City had four ace serves in the second set and scored the final two points on aces for a 25-17 Buster win to tie the match at 1-1.

SET 3: The Dragons scored the first four points of the third set, but Garden City went on an 8-1 run to build an 8-5 lead. Hutchinson answered back with a 7-2 run. Back-to-back Dean kills and a Ravanhani setter dump for a kill gave the Dragons a 12-10 lead. Ravanhani's ace gave the Dragons a 16-13 lead, but Garden tied the set at 17-all. The Dragons went on a 5-1 run, taking a 22-18 lead after an Arce ace. Golden's fourth kill of the set came on set point for a 25-20 Hutchinson victory.

SET 4: The Dragons built an early 12-4 lead in the fourth set. Garden City answered with a 9-1 run to tie the set at 13-all. The teams traded 3-0 runs. A Golden kill and consecutive Ravanhani aces gave Hutchinson 16-13 lead, but the Busters once again tied the set at 16-all. The set was also tied at 20 and 21. Dean gave the Dragons the lead for good with a solo block. A Golden kill and a Dean/Ravanhani double block gave the Dragons a 24-21 lead. The teams traded service errors to end the match.