🏐 HutchCC Volleyball opens this weekend in Iowa

STEVE CARPENTER
HutchCC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College volleyball team has always played a tough, aggressive non-conference schedule.

The 2022 Blue Dragons are upholding that tradition, and then some, with four nationally ranked opponents, including Nos. 1 and 3 in the preseason rankings, at this weekend’s season-opening Iowa Western Reiver Classic in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Head coach Delice Downing’s third season starts with No. 19 Indian Hills and No. 12 Jefferson College on Friday. Things get tougher on Saturday morning with No. 3 Missouri State-West Plains and defending national champion, No. 1 Iowa Western on Saturday.

“Our first tournament is one for the books,” said Downing, who is 37-26 in her first two seasons at Hutchinson. Downing remains No. 3 Jayhawk Conference Volleyball coaching history with a 17-year record of 469-201.

Downing returns six sophomores from a 19-16 team that finished sixth in the Jayhawk West and fell in the opening round of the Region VI Tournament.

The 2022 Blue Dragons were picked sixth in the preseason coaches’ poll released on Wednesday. Seward County was picked to win the league followed by defending league and region champion Butler, Barton, Colby and Dodge City.

“We have 2 of our top 3 attackers back from last season and one of our top setters,” Downing said. “We are looking to build our offense with explosive power and finesse.”

Pin hitters Blondie Penaflor and Sophie Connor were offensive leaders as freshmen Blue Dragons.

Penaflor (6’0, outside hitter, Las Vegas) was a second-team all-Jayhawk West performer in 2021. She hit .217 and averaged 2.38 kills and 0.56 blocks per set as a freshman. Connor (5’10, outside hitter, Derby) hit .161 with 2.29 kills per set. Connor also averaged 1.92 digs per set.

Right-side hitter Baylee Miller (6-0, Maize) had some big moments as a freshman. Overall, she hit .147 with 1.31 kills per set. Also back is right-side hitter Morgan Harvey (5-8, Hoyt, KS) averaged 1.50 kills on .143 hitting and 1.72 digs per set.

Returning starting setter Andrea Serrano (5’6, Arecibo, Puerto Rico) averaged 7.22 assists per set in Hutchinson’s 6-2 offense. She also brings 32 service aces and 1.96 digs per set.

Middle blocker Chloe Conway (5-10, Concordia, KS) returns with 0.63 blocks per set last season. Conway hit .185 in limited duty last season.

The Blue Dragons look to improve an offense that averaged 11.32 kills per set and hit only .173 as a team. The Dragons did average 1.92 services aces and 15.14 digs per set. The Dragons hope to improve their overall block, which averaged 1.94 team blocks per set last season.

To go with the returning players are 11 incoming freshmen who, according to Downing, have “a ton of high-level talent.”

Now Downing will try to mesh things together for an improved 2022 season.

“We are excited to see how this group comes together, because no matter how much talent you have, they have to buy in, accept the work that needs to be put in to be successful and step out of the box to build a family,” Downing said. “Preseason was a grind and some girls have already started the family process.”

The Blue Dragons open the 2022 home season on Monday with a triangular against the Ottawa University JV, Neosho County and the Bethel College JV at 4, 6 and 8 p.m. at the Sports Arena.