By Tim Waits
Temple Daily Telegram
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Even if it was something of a foregone conclusion Monday night, the Lake Belton Lady Broncos didn’t take any chances with the opportunity to win a Class 5A Division I area-round volleyball playoff match for the second straight year.
Kaitlyn Hutchins, for one, made certain of it.
Hutchins dominated with 16 kills, four blocks and three aces to lead the Lady Broncos to a 25-10, 25-13, 25-11 sweep of Dallas Adams.
Lake Belton (31-12) advanced to face Melissa or Dallas Highland Park later last week in a Region II semifinal. Adams finished its season 21-12.
The outcome was never in question, but the Lady Broncos wanted to remain sharp.
“It was so important that we play up to our standards,” said Hutchins, a Northern Colorado commit. “This one was fun. I just kept getting set and doing what I could to help the team.”
Lake Belton coach Allison Waits was impressed by Hutchins and the rest of her team.
“She’s crazy good. She’s just an all-around dominant player,” Waits said. “It’s not just her attacking, but her leadership. I’m blessed just to get to watch her.”
Tied at 6-all in the opening set, but the Lady Broncos went on a 13-1 tear to take a comfortable lead on the services of Keileigh Krueger and Haylee Kasner. A Krueger ace set the wheels in motion ,and Hutchins put away four kills during that stretch to go with a Madi Bingham kill. Lake Belton added kills from Ava Wood, Hutchins and Thia Allison to grab the opener.
The momentum didn’t wane to open the middle set as the Lady Broncos raced to a 10-3 advantage that included a string of kills from Hutchins, Morgan Kukulski, Wood and Bingham. A 7-2 run midway through the set with points from Madi Jackman, Hutchins, Kukulski, an ace from Kasner and a back-row kill from Kruz Smith kept the Lady Broncos in control.
The same could be said of the third set.
Lake Belton opened an 18-3 lead propelled by a 14-1 run. Back-to-back kills by Wood and a block from Nia Grayson broke it open. Kasner was on the service line for nine straight points, including two aces to supplement five Hutchins kills.
A Bingham block and a Makinzi Johnson kill off a Bingham set finished the match for the Lady Broncos.
“We’re like sisters,” said Smith, a defensive specialist. “We’re competitive and we push each other. It’s one of the best teams I’ve ever been a part of.”
