Hutcheson triggers Kennedy sweep

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Michelle Goodall calls them "bold yellow," these new uniform tops that her team wears.

"Our girls look like highlighters in them," she said.

Allie Hutcheson would stand out in drab gray.

A do-it-all threat, Hutcheson dominated in numerous ways as Class 4A fifth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy overwhelmed Cedar Rapids Washington, 25-18, 25-12, 25-20, in a Mississippi Valley Conference volleyball match Tuesday night at Kennedy High School.

"We've had a lot of good players go through this program, and Allie has all the tools to be at the top of the list," Goodall said.

A 6-foot-1 talent commited to the University of Northern Colorado, Hutcheson collected 26 assists and 12 kills as the Cougars improved to 11-3 overall, 2-1 in the MVC.

Hutcheson started the season as the Cougars' prime setter in a 5-1 offensive scheme, but Goodall is transitioning to a "flex" offense to give the left-hander more opportunities to hit. Allie McQuiston is the secondary setter.

"(Hutcheson is) becoming more and more of a weapon to hit," Goodall said. "She's really hard to defend."

Goodall and Hutcheson agreed: This was Kennedy's best performance of the season.

"We really have gotten our defense under control," Hutcheson said. "We were relaxed out there and talking all the time."

Now, about those loud yellow uniforms ...

"They're bright, neon, look-at-me yellow," Hutcheson said. "We love them."

Washington (7-5, 2-1) had the first surge in the evening, marching to a 5-1 lead in Game 1. But a six-point run put the Cougars in front, 9-7, and they didn't face another deficit all night.

Kennedy jumped to an 11-3 advantage in the second game, a 10-4 margin in the third.

Alexus Rogers added nine kills for the winners. Jordan Calef collected seven. Madi Meier was flawless in 15 service attempts and delivered four aces.

Kellie Walters led Washington with six kills.

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