HUTCHINSON, Kan.- Still working out the kinks, Pratt volleyball was handed a 3-0 loss on the road against conference rival Hutchinson Community College. 

Avery Smith led the Beavers with nine kills on 27 attempts (.148), while Kylee Harman and Brianna Ede posted four kills as well. Setting things up for Pratt, Kylie Fletcher posted 18 assists and was responsible for a pair of blocks. Yianmarie Catala managed a team-high 11 digs, where three other Beavers (Smith, Harman, and Halley Perez) recorded four or more digs. 

The first set opened with the Blue Dragons claiming an intial 10-2 lead, and the Beavers were never able to trim the deficit to less than six points, as the Hutchinson cruised through the opening set 25-15. Pratt took brief command of the second set, leading 9-7. However, the Blue Dragons added seven of the next 12 points, tying the frame at 14-14. Hutchinson carried that momentum to the end of set, going on a 11-2 run to lead 2-0. 

The Beavers then fell behind early 12-4 in the final set, but made things interesting, winning eight of the next 11 points to trim the lead to 15-12.  Even so, Pratt found it difficult to erase Hutchinson's lead, dropping the last set 25-20.

The Beavers (1-2, 0-2) return on Monday, February 1 to face the Garden City Broncbusters (3-1, 1-0) in the Beaver Dome. The match will be livestreamed at GoBeaverSports.com.