HUTCHINSON, Kansas — Wednesday night's road match against Hutchinson Community College was a microcosm of the 2016 season for the Cloud County Community College volleyball team as it played outstanding in stretches, but struggled with consistency en route to a 3-1 loss to the Blue Dragons.

The T-Birds (11-13 overall, 5-7 KJCCC), who currently sit fifth in the KJCCC standings, came out flat to begin the evening as they dropped the first set 25-11, and quickly fell behind 14-3 in the second set in what would be another 25-11 win for third-place Blue Dragons (18-11 overall, 9-2 KJCCC).

In the third set, Cloud County found its footing and traded the first 20 points with Hutchinson. A quick 3-0 burst gave the T-Birds some separation at 13-10 and forced a Hutchinson timeout. It did little to stop Cloud County's momentum, however, as the T-Birds rattled off a 4-1 run out of the break to extend the lead to 17-11 on a kill by sophomore Cara Flach. Flach finished with team-highs in kills with eight, and with 22 assists.

Hutchinson closed the gap to four at 20-16, but Cloud responded a 5-0 run, capped by a Blue Dragons' attack error, to win the third set 25-16.

The T-Birds would draw first blood in the fourth set, taking a brief 1-0 lead, before Hutchinson put together a 6-2 run of its own. Cloud County took its final timeout still within striking distance at 17-11, but were unable to mount a comeback as the Blue Dragons went on to win the fourth set, 25-15.

Offensively, Cloud County had a balanced attack, led by Flach's eight kills. Freshmen outside hitters Irem Bat and Katelyn Ruth, and redshirt freshman Christen Greving, all added seven kills apiece.

Sophomore defensive specialist Cheyanne Hileman tallied a team-high three aces, while her fellow sophomore defensive specialist Bailey Lewis led the T-Birds with 12 digs.

Cloud County will get a week off to regroup before it heads back out on the road to face the second-place team in the KJCCC standings, Seward County Community College (18-9 overall, 9-2 KJCCC). Start time is set for 6:30 p.m.