DRAGONS REACH 20-WIN PLATEAU AFTER SWEEP OF MINERAL AREA

Libero Isabella Rollandini had a combined 40 digs, including 25 in a sweep of Mineral Area on Friday at the Mineral Area College Tournament in Park Hills, MO.

October 13, 2023

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

PARK HILLS, Missouri – The Hutchinson Community College volleyball team reached the 20-victory plateau and started the Mineral Area College Tournament 2-0 with a sweep of the tournament host on Friday.

The Blue Dragons swept Mineral Area for the second time this season in three tightly contested sets, winning 25-20, 25-22, 25-20.

With an earlier victory over No. 16 Indian Hills and the sweep of the Cardinals, the Blue Dragons improve 20-9 overall. Hutchinson plays Vincennes University and Missouri State University-West Plains at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively on Saturday at Sechrist Gym.

The Blue Dragons reached 20 wins in a season for the 32nd time in program history.

Sophomore Taniya Golden led the Blue Dragons with 14 kills, five total blocks and six digs.

Sophomore Alejandra Briseno finished with eight digs, a season-high 17 digs three blocks and three ace serves.

Sophomore Anna Dean had seven kills, while Ashlyn Long ad four kills.

Sophomore setter Giovanna Ravanhani finished with 28 assists and nine digs.

Freshman libero Isabella Rollandini had 25 digs.

Set 1: The Blue Dragons had four early blocks and a Dean ace opened an early 6-2 lead and a McKenzie Murphy kill capped a 10-3 opening run. The Cardinals countered with a 11-2 lead to take a 14-12. The Dragons answered back with a 4-0 run to lead 16-14 after a Dean kill and Alondra Velez ace. Leading 18-17, the Dragons scored five unanswered points and led 23-17 after a Long kill. Briseno's kill gave the Dragons a 25-20 victory.

Set 2: The Dragons scored 10 unanswered points after the Cardinals scored on the first rally of the set. A Golden kill gave Hutchinson a 13-5 lead, then a Briseno/Ravanhani double block gave the Dragons a 17-10 lead. Mineral Area scored five in a row to pull within 17-15 and the Cardinals later got within one point at 23-22. A Briseno kill got the Dragons to set point and a Dean/Ravanhani double block closed the set for a 25-22 win and a 2-0 match lead.

Set 3: Golden have five kills in the third set to lead the Dragons. Tied at 7-7, Long and Dean had kills for a two-point lead. Another Golden kill gave the Dragons a 14-11 lead. Ravanhani's serve clipped the net and dropped for an ace to give the Dragons an 18-13 lead. Mineral Area scored three in a row to pull within two points, but a Golden kill started a 5-1 Hutchinson run to grab full control of the set. Dean had the kill on match point to complete the sweep.