Broncbusters fall to Hutch in three sets

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-Even in defeat, Patrick Hiltz could only smile. His team, which pushed back from double-digit deficits all night, played in front of one of the most raucous crowds in recent memory. But in the end, Hutchinson's power was too much to overcome.

Sophie Connor had eight kills, Andrea Serrano posted 25 assists, and the Blue Dragons beat Garden City in three sets 22-25, 19-25, 24-26 Monday night at Conestoga Arena.

"Overall, we played better than the last time we played them," Hiltz said afterwards. "But we had way too many decision errors tonight."

Garden City committed 47 miscues, which in turn, had them playing from behind for most of the match.

"I know we had a lot of errors, but in all honesty, if you don't have any errors, you're probably not scoring points," Hiltz explained.

After dropping a close first set, the Broncbusters came out flat in the second. Connor recorded a kill, Zoe Schmidt dropped in back-to-back service aces, and Hutchinson had a 4-0 advantage. Later in the frame, the Blue Dragons broke open a close set with an 8-0 run, fueled by a Connor kill and block and a Schmidt service ace that put Hutchinson up 19-8. But give an assist to the home crowd, which helped the Broncbusters get back in the game. Giorgia Cappelletti's powerful slam followed by a couple of Blue Dragon attack errors had Garden City within four, 23-19. But that's as close as they got. A miscue and an ace by Serrano ended the set.

"This whole process is all part of growing up and getting better," Hiltz said. "We just have to be better in our decision making."

In the third, the Blue Dragons raced out to a 15-6 lead before the Broncbusters made their move. Vanja Stefanovic blasted a kill crosscourt, Cappelletti recorded a block at the net, and Hannah Brandt rifled a sledgehammer spike that pulled Garden City within seven. Stefanovic added another kill, Jagels tapped one just inside the right boundary, and Hutchinson committed an attack error that knotted the score at 24. It was all part of an 18-9 surge that completely flipped the set.

"I am really proud of how we fought back," Hiltz added.

But the Blue Dragons put the clamps on from there. Brandt's serve sailed long before Connor's kill ended the match.

"We will fix our execution errors once we get better with the ball," Hiltz said.

Remi Vargas led Garden City with 23 assists, Cappelletti had 10 digs, and Stefanovic recorded 12 kills.

Next up: Garden City vs. Colby-Wednesday, Sept. 22-6:30 p.m. on Buster TV