Dutch volleyball team falls in home tournament opener
Central Dutch Athletics
PELLA—Behind a raucous Friday night crowd inside P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium, the Central College volleyball team gave Augustana College (Ill.) all it could handle in a 3-1 defeat for the Dutch.
The Dutch (2-3) fell by scores of 25-21, 25-16, 20-25, 25-23 to the Vikings (3-3).
“We’re learning so much each week and each day,” coach Jeanne Czipri said. “I’m excited to keep seeing this team progress.”
Friday marked the return of starting middle hitter Hana Edgerton (junior, Grundy Center) to the lineup after missing Tuesday’s win against Iowa Wesleyan University. She had eight kills in just 10 attempts to record a .700 hitting percentage.
Fellow middle hitter Middle hitter Erin Dilger (junior, Tinley Park, Ill., Lincoln-Way North HS) added nine kills.
“Our middles are finding ways to be creative and score,” Czipri said. “They found ways to get the ball down regardless of whether it was a swing or a tip.”
It was another double-digit kill performance for freshman outside hitter Krissa Larson (Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS), who led the Dutch with 14 kills.
“We’re finding a way to move her around,” Czipri said. “She’s doing a great job of being coachable and learning. She’s finding more ways to score instead of just being athletic.”
Senior setter Chapel Carter (Colorado Springs, Colo., Coronado HS) had 37 assists.
“Chapel has put in the work last year, this year and over the summer,” Czipri said. “She’s made the changes to be more efficient and more consistent, while still being Chapel.”
Junior outside hitter Kristin Fick (North Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS) made an impression her first extensive varsity action, landing five kills on 15 attempts.
“Kristin did good,” Czipri said. “Especially since she hasn’t seen a lot of varsity attacking.”
Outside hitter Landry Luhring (freshman, Grundy Center) paced the team with 21 digs. Two more home matches await the Dutch on Saturday as a part of the Central-Grinnell Invitational. The day starts with Illinois College at 10 a.m. and finishes with Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.) at 2 p.m.
“We’re excited for the opportunities tomorrow,” Czipri said. “This was our first real physical and dynamic team that we’ve faced. We did a good job battling with them. I hope we can carry the momentum into tomorrow and get a crowd like we got today. We’ll take that kind of noise and crowd any day.”
Live video and stats will be available at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/central/
