Central volleyball team splits opening matches of NACC/IIAC Crossover tournament
Central College
PELLA — The Central College volleyball team earned a four-set win over Marian (Wis.) 25-10, 25-27, 25-14, 25-20 before falling in straight sets to Concordia (Wis.) 28-26, 25-18, 25-23 on the first day of the NACC/IIAC Crossover tournament Friday in Milwaukee, Wis.
“We will have spurts where we will be intentional and active and we will get into a nice rhythm,” said coach Kent Clayberg. “In those times things can be very impressive and you can feel pretty good about things. Then we will run into a spot where we get ourselves into a little bit of trouble and we simply do not respond well in those circumstances. Suddenly a game that was very easy becomes very hard.”
In the first match outside hitter Jessica Laflin (senior, Phoenix, Ariz., Horizon Honors HS) had 11 kills in 23 attacks and middle Emily McDonald (freshman, Orange City, MOC-Floyd Valley HS) had 10 kills to help lead the Dutch to a victory. Defensive specialists Tara Tralewski (freshman, Naperville, Ill., Neuqua Valley HS) and Tori Zempel each recorded 15 digs.
In the nightcap the Dutch and Concordia went back and forth in the opening set before the Falcons pulled out a 28-26 win. They also won the second set, but Central, down 24-18 in the third set, rattled off five straight points to pull within one before falling. Clayberg liked seeing his team not give up, but knows there is still room for improvement.
“It shows some resilience,” said Clayberg. “I want to see them take that resilience all the way to the end. To pull within one isn’t the same as winning. We know what to do and we know how to do it.”
Libero Dzenita Bahtic (senior, Urbandale) recorded 28 digs in the second match for Central, while outside hitter Mollie Mason (freshman, Iowa City, West) came up big with 10 kills and 11 digs.
“I think Mollie Mason was very strong today,” said Clayberg. “Offensively she was outstanding in both matches. She was very consistent in her position and timing. She did a nice job and I thought she competed really well.”
The Dutch will play their final two matches of the tournament Saturday when they take on Aurora (Ill.) at noon and Wisconsin Lutheran at 2 p.m.
