Dutch put up fight in volleyball road defeat

Central Dutch Athletics

DECORAH — All three sets were hotly contested, but the Central College volleyball team was swept by Luther College Tuesday night in American Rivers Conference action.

The Norse (10-13, 3-2 conference) earned the victory with set scores of 25-20, 25-23, 27-25 over the Dutch (10-11, 1-4 conference).

“I was much more pleased with how we competed today,” coach Jeanne Czipri said. “We competed as one selfless team and with a lot of grit and heart. We played with a completely different mindset tonight and it was an awesome battle.”

A night that included six kills and three blocks for Hana Edgerton (junior, middle hitter, Grundy Center) was highlighted by her spearheading Central’s furious rally in the third set. She had two kills and one block in the final few points of the set.

“Hana was the impact kid, especially in that third set when we were down 24-19,” Czipri said. “She made play after play after play that truly kept us in the fight.”

Once again, outside hitter Krissa Larson (freshman, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) and rightside hitter Melissa Miller (senior, Williamsburg) led the team in kills. Larson had 12 and Miller recorded seven.

“We are really pleased with Melissa and Krissa finding ways to score and be successful against a good block and defense,” Czipri said.

Libero DaLana Kron (sophomore, West Branch) led the way with 16 digs.

“Defensively, we were happy with DaLana’s discipline and aggressiveness,” Czipri said.

The Dutch will play in two different triangulars this weekend. North Central College hosts Central and Bethel University (Minn.) on Friday night in Naperville, Illinois. Saturday, Central will be in Sheboygan, Wisconsin to play Lakeland University (Wis.) and Finlandia University (Mich.).

“We feel good about a lot of things we saw tonight,” Czipri said. “Hopefully, we can carry this and turn the positive progress and energy into wins.”