CAPTION: McKenzie Murphy (right) and the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragon volleyball team won a pair of five-set matches on Friday at the McCook Invitational, defeating No. 9 Indian Hills and Lamar. CREDIT ED BAILEY
By John Mesh
The Hutchinson Community College volleyball team played two five-set matches Friday on the first day of the McCook CC Invitational in McCook, Neb., and then played two four-set matches on Saturday.
HutchCC went 3-1 in the tournament and improved its record to 5-4.
The tournament was played at the Graff Events Center on the McCook CC campus in McCook, Neb.
The Blue Dragons defeated No. 9 Indian Hills CC, Iowa, in their first match Friday at the McCook CC Invitational in McCook, Neb., 3 sets to 2 (25-16, 25-21, 13-25, 18-25, 15-10).
In their second match, the Blue Dragons defeated Lamar, Colo., 3 sets to 2 (18-25, 25-21, 25-19, 20-25, 15-2). HutchCC opened the fifth set with nine straight points.
On Saturday, Western Nebraska Community College defeated the Blue Dragons 3 sets to 1 (30-28, 25-20, 16-25, 25-17) and Hutchinson defeated North Platte Community College 25-15, 25-21, 21-25, 25-17.
The Blue Dragons play Seward County Community College at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Greenhouse in Liberal.
HutchCC plays four matches Thursday through Saturday in the Odessa College (Texas) OC Invitational.
The Blue Dragons will play Odessa at 6 p.m. on Thursday, New Mexico Junior College at noon and Vernon College at 5 p.m. on Friday and Panola College at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
The host school McCook Community College posted a 3-1 record at their home tournament and now has a 7-1 record.
HutchCC women’s soccer team tied 2-2 by Seward County
The Sward County Saints scored two second-half goals to force a 2-2 tie with the No. 20-ranked Blue Dragon women’s soccer team Saturday in a Kansas Jayhawk Community College match at Liberal High School.
The Blue Dragons now are 2-0-1 and will host a KJCCC match at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Salthawk Sports Complex.
Kaitlyn Edwards scored the Blue Dragons’ first goal for a 1-0 HutchCC lead. That was the score at halftime.
With 40:27 left to play in the second half, Ana Pokrandt scored HutchCC’s second goal on a header with an assist from Rogers to make the score 2-0.
The Saints scored their first goal on a penalty kick, cutting the Blue Dragons’ lead to 2-1 with 26:26 remaining in the match.
Seward County tied the score at 2-2 with 3:22 left in the match.
Salthawk volleyball team 3-2 at AVCTL Preseason Tournament
The Salthawk volleyball team opens the 2024 season with a 3-2 record at the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Preseason Tournament Saturday at the Salthawk Activity Center.
Buhler, Garden City, Emporia, Valley Center and Wichita Kapaun Mount Carmel also competed in the tournament.
Hutchinson played five matches Saturday (all on Court 3 at the SAC).
The Salthawks defeated Garden City 2 sets to 1 (25-21, 19-25, 25-22), Valley Center 3 sets to 0 (25-21, 18-25, 15-17) and Buhler 2 sets to 1 (25-23, 22-25, 26-24).
Hutchinson lost to Emporia 2 sets to 1 (20-25, 25-13, 25-13) and Kapaun 2 sets to 1 (25-19, 20-25, 25-17).
Halstead volleyball team wins CKL Preseason Tournament
The Halstead High School volleyball opened Central Kansas League Preseason Tournament play Saturday with a 25-19, 25-13 win over Nickerson.
The Dragons defeated Haven 25-13, 25-11 in their second match and Hoisington 25-21, 25-21 to reach the championship match against Hesston. The Dragons knocked off the Swathers 25-22, 25-15.
The CKL Tournament was played at the Halstead High School gymnasium.
Andover wins AVCTL Preseason Tournament at McPherson
Andover High School won the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Tournament at McPherson Saturday with a 4-0 overall record (8-0 in sets).
Andale placed second at 3-1 (6-3 in sets), followed by McPherson in third at 2-2 (5-4 in sets), Maize in fourth at 2-2 (5-5 in sets), Derby fifth at 1-3 (2-7 in sets) and Newton sixth at 0-4 (1-8 in sets).