CAPTION: Hutchinson Community College volleyball coach Delice Downing. CREDIT HUTCHCC SPORTS INFORMATION
By John Mesh
Hutchinson Community College volleyball coach Delice Downing stressed the importance of team chemistry during the first fall practice sessions for the Blue Dragons.
One of the team chemistry-building exercises took place on Wednesday when Downing took the Blue Dragons spikers to Wichita Aquapark to take their minds off volleyball.
“It’s so important that we take the first day and do all the team bonding stuff because we think team chemistry is what’s important for volleyball,” said Downing in an interview on Blue Dragon Sports social media sites on Monday.
Downing, who became the 13th head volleyball coach at HutchCC on July 2, 2020, has an 87-53 record in four seasons with the Blue Dragons and an overall record of 519-228 in 19 seasons.
Before coming to HutchCC, Downing spent 15 seasons as the volleyball coach at Coffeyville Community College.
“You’ve gotta have that connection with the person next to you, in front of you and across from you because that’s your team and that’s your family. It’s so important that you love on each other.”
Downing said the Aquapark trip is the second bonding experience for the Blue Dragons during the preseason.
“So once they moved in, we went out and did a trip,” she said. “We’re going to do it again on Wednesday. We’re going to some different obstacle courses and work together. It’s fun and it gets them away from volleyball for a while, but it teaches them to love on each other and help each other. It’s a sisterhood.”
The Blue Dragons posted a 24-15 record during the 2023 season, including an 11-5 record in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference. The Blue Dragons were 8-5 at home, 7-6 on the road and 9-4 at neutral sites.
The Blue Dragons lost a five-game match to Dodge City in the first round of the Plains District Tournament.
HutchCC opens the season with three matches at the Central Christian College gymnasium in McPherson. The Blue Dragons will play Central Christian College, Bethel College and Southwestern College.
Hutchinson competes in the KJCCC Scrimmage Sept. 17 and hosts the Red and Blue Scrimmage and Sterling College on Sept. 19 at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.