Blue Dragons Complete Dramatic Comeback, Rally From 2 Sets Down to Beat North Platte

McCOOK, Neb. - The Hutchinson Community College volleyball team completed just the eighth reverse sweep in program history, rallying from a two-set deficit to defeat North Platte 21-25, 15-25, 25-22, 25-17, 15-12 on Saturday at the Graff Events Center.

The Blue Dragons (4-3) finished 3-1 at the McCook Labor Day Tournament and moved above .500 for the first time this season. Outside hitters Alondra Villanueva and Atlyn Proctor combined for 27 kills to lead the comeback effort.

Hutchinson's last reverse sweep came on Sept. 30, 2023, when the Blue Dragons defeated Dodge City in five sets. The program is now 61-61 all-time in five-set matches during the rally-scoring era that began in 2001.

"We showed tremendous heart and resilience coming back from that deficit," said Blue Dragons coach. "Our team never gave up, and that's the kind of fight we need to carry forward."

Villanueva recorded her second double-double of the season with 15 kills and 11 digs while adding three aces. She hit .209 for the match with six errors on 43 attacks. Proctor contributed 12 kills on 46 swings for a .217 hitting percentage and added a season-high four blocks.

The turning point came when sophomore setter Angela Reupena entered the match to start the third set. She finished with 28 assists, two blocks and two aces to spark the rally.

"Angela brought great energy and really got our offense flowing," the coach noted. "Sometimes a substitution can change the whole momentum of a match."

Sophomores Priscilla Raschen and Kierny Follmer each contributed six kills. Follmer hit a season-high .357 and added three blocks, including one solo effort.

Libero Clara Oliveira recorded a season-high 24 digs, while Lauren Vazquez added 12 digs. The Blue Dragons totaled a season-high 10 team blocks.

North Platte dominated the early going, taking the first set 25-21 despite a late Hutchinson rally that tied the score at 11. The Knights controlled the second set even more decisively, building leads of 8-3, 12-5 and 14-8 before closing out a 25-15 victory.

Facing elimination, Hutchinson opened the third set with four straight points and built a 10-3 advantage. After North Platte rallied to tie at 14-14, the Blue Dragons responded with a crucial 5-0 run featuring kills from Follmer and Villanueva, plus back-to-back aces from Reupena for a 19-14 lead.

The fourth set featured five lead changes and four ties in the first 12 rallies before Hutchinson took control. A double block by Mattie Galliher and Raschen gave the Blue Dragons the lead for good at 7-6, and they pulled away for a 25-17 victory.

In the decisive fifth set, Hutchinson trailed 8-7 at the crossover before scoring three of the next four points to take an 11-9 lead. Proctor clinched the comeback with a cross-court kill after North Platte had fought off two match points.

The Blue Dragons hit .172 for the match with 44 kills on 139 total attacks, while North Platte managed 41 kills.

Hutchinson will return home to host Barton in the Jayhawk Conference and home opener at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Sports Arena.