Central volleyball team uses 13-point run to upset defending league champion Wartburg
Central College
PELLA — The Central College volleyball team stunned league favorite Wartburg College in straight sets 25-22, 25-22, 25-16 in front of an enthusiastic P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium crowd Tuesday night.
The Dutch (14-6 overall, 2-1 Iowa Conference) have won five of their last six matches and appear to be hitting their stride at the right time. Coach Kent Clayberg was not surprised his team fared so well against a quality opponent like Wartburg (16-3, 2-1).
“I felt very confident after watching my team play on Saturday and breaking down that film,” said Clayberg. “I felt very confident that we were going to be a tough battle for Wartburg tonight.”
Right-side hitter Emily Stoakes (junior, Gladbrook, Gladbrook-Reinbeck HS) provided much of the offensive spark hitting a steamy .583 with nine kills while middle hitter Hannah Welter (senior, Lincoln, Neb., Southwest HS) had eight kills and five blocks.
Clayberg said one reason for his team’s success Tuesday was the play of defensive specialists Dzenita Bahtic (senior, Urbandale) and Tara Tralewski (freshman, Naperville, Ill., Neuqua Valley HS). Bahtic, the reigning conference defensive player of the week, recorded 25 digs while Tralewski had 13.
“Our first contact was outstanding,” said Clayberg. “We were very consistent in our first contact that allowed us to make adjustments.”
Clayberg also liked what he saw in the defensive play of his middle hitters.
“We had a little bit tougher time getting our middles going offensively, but their block was really good,” said Clayberg. “I was very proud they were able to let go of what they were struggling with offensively and let the defense come to them.”
At one point Central rattled off 13 straight points to close the second set and open up an 8-0 lead in the third.
“There are two teams that have the same objective in game three and circumstances aren’t any different,” said Clayberg. “We just attended to the details of what it was going to take for us to get to where we wanted to go.”
The Dutch weathered a rally by Wartburg and closed out the Knights for the first time since 2010 for an important conference win. A passionate Homecoming week crowd made a lot of noise in support of the team in red.
“The crowd was great,” said Clayberg. “This was reminiscent of the days of old when we were a national power and we would pack the place. It was a good crowd, it was a very loud crowd, and I have no doubt that it was part of the struggle that Wartburg had to get themselves together.”
Clayberg said the team is not going to get too caught up in this win.
“We are not going to be a silly team who thinks that we are there,” said Clayberg. “We’re not. That’s the great mistake of teams that experience some success. They think that it’s a destination. We are not going to be that team. We are scratching the surface of what we can be. This wasn’t the pinnacle, this wasn’t the best we’ve got to offer. This was very good, but we’ve got a lot of growing to do yet.”
Central will head to Mount Pleasant Thursday to take on Iowa Wesleyan (3-12) at 7 p.m.
