Hutchinson rallies from 2-0 deficit to eliminate Butler in Region 6 opener
Information obtained from HCC officials
EL DORADO, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community College volleyball team avenged an earlier reverse sweep loss to Butler by pulling off its own comeback on Nov. 4.
After dropping the first two sets, sixth-seeded Hutchinson rallied to defeat the Grizzlies 21-25, 10-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-13 in the opening round of the Region 6 Tournament at the Power Plant.
The Blue Dragons (15-17) advanced to the Region 6 semifinals for the first time since 2022 and will face second-seeded Colby at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.
The victory marked Hutchinson's ninth all-time reverse sweep since rally scoring began in 2001 and just the second postseason reverse sweep in program history. The Blue Dragons previously rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Colby in the Region 6 semifinals Nov. 5, 2011.
Sophomore Atlyn Proctor led Hutchinson with 20 kills on .259 hitting, including 13 kills and only two errors in the final three sets. Sophomore Kierny Follmer added a career-high 15 kills on .387 hitting, with 12 coming in the final three sets.
The comeback began in the third set after Butler took a 16-10 lead. Follmer's kill to the deep left corner sparked a 5-1 run. Her seventh kill of the set gave Hutchinson set point at 24-23, and Proctor's kill sealed the 25-23 victory.
Hutchinson hit .316 in the fourth set, with Proctor recording five kills on .455 hitting. Her kill gave the Blue Dragons a 24-21 lead, and Butler's attack error on set point forced a fifth set.
In the decisive fifth set, Hutchinson jumped ahead 5-2 before Butler rallied to tie at 7-7 and again at 11-11 and 12-12. Proctor tooled the block for a 13-12 lead, and after Butler tied it at 13-13, freshman Mattie Galliher terminated into the deep corner for match point. Proctor's fourth kill of the set completed the comeback with a 15-13 victory.
Sophomore setter Angela Reupena had 43 assists, while freshman libero Clara Oliveira posted 24 digs to move into second place on the Blue Dragon freshman digs list and third on the single-season list with 625 digs. Freshman McKenzye Williamson added a career-high 20 digs.