Central sweeps in home volleyball opener
Central Dutch Athletics
PELLA—A busy week of Central College volleyball inside P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium started off with a 3-0 sweep of Iowa Wesleyan University Tuesday night.
The Dutch (2-2) won in straight sets over the Tigers (1-3), to the tune of 25-11, 25-23, 25-20. As a team, the Dutch hit .277 (41-13-101) and had nine service aces.
“While we’re still playing with the lineup, I think we’re starting to feel a little stronger,” coach Jeanne Czipri said. “Consistency is going to be the key for us. We need to be consistently steady instead of riding these big waves.”
Coming up just one kill shy of a double-double, freshman outside hitter Landry Luhring (Grundy Center) finished the night with nine kills and 12 digs.
“Landry has continuously gotten better with each set,” Czipri said. “Her coming so close to her first collegiate double-double is awesome.”
Luhring also led the team with five service aces.
It was an even 10 kills for freshman outside Krissa Larson (Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS), who led the team and capped off the night with a thunderous attack to close out the third set.
“It’s pretty amazing for a freshman to get 10 kills on 23 swings and just one error,” Czipri said.
Senior Melissa Miller (Williamsburg) had six kills from her spot on the right-side while setter Chapel Carter (senior, Colorado Springs, Coronado HS) had 31 assists.
“Two blocks and seven digs from Melissa is huge as well,” Czipri said. “We believe she has the ability to go six rotations so we’re trying to give her the same confidence we have in her.”
In co-hosting a tournament with Grinnell College this weekend, Central has a home match scheduled against Augustana College (Ill.) Friday night at 7 p.m. On Saturday six matches will be played in the gym, including Central against Illinois College and Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.) at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
