Central volleyball team continues best start since 2011
Central College
PELLA — The Central College volleyball team was pushed to four sets for the first time this season, but continued their best winning streak to start the season since 2011 with a victory over Iowa Wesleyan.
The Dutch, now at 5-0, have matched the 2011 team with five straight wins and are just one victory away from the first 6-0 start since the 1999 Division III National Champion team that finished 41-0.
“We know that our road is going to get harder but that’s alright,” coach Kent Clayberg said. “We needed to learn to move together in this offense and that’s what we have done in our first five matches. We have set ourselves up for what comes next.”
Central took care of business Wednesday night 25-16, 25-11, 13-25, 25-23 and moved the series record against Iowa Wesleyan to 24-12 in favor of the Dutch.
The Dutch were led offensively by freshman right side Melissa Miller (Williamsburg) with 10 kills and just one error in 19 attempts for a .474 attack percentage. She set new career highs in both kills and attack percentage.
“Melissa played very relaxed tonight,” said Clayberg. “She’s a smart player, is very self-aware and understands volleyball. She played aggressive tonight and came up with several nice kills.”
Sophomore outside hitter Mollie Mason (Iowa City/West) knocked down eight kills for the Dutch and classmate middle hitter Emily McDonald (Orange City/MOC-Floyd Valley) registered seven kills. Freshman setter Madison Egger (Lincoln, Neb./Southwest) led the team with 18 assists. Both Mason and sophomore defensive specialist Tara Tralewski (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) notched double-digit kills, Mason with 10 and Tralewski at 11.
The third set was the first blemish on the Central schedule this year, as they have now won 15 of 16 sets this year. Clayberg used the third set more as a chance to get the younger players some experience.
“That third set was more of an emotional battle that we lost more than anything,” Clayberg said. “We sighted that and talked about that to improve on it in the future with our younger players.”
The Dutch have a big weekend coming up as they travel to Aurora, Ill. for the Aurora University Invitational. Central play four games total, two Friday and two Saturday. The first contest will be a 4 p.m. start with Wheaton (Mass.) followed by a 6 p.m. match with Benedictine (Ill.). Saturday will see the Dutch take on Chicago (Ill.) at noon and host Aurora at 2 p.m.
