Dutch roar back for volleyball win
PELLA — Erasing a 2-0 deficit, the Central College volleyball team vanquished the Luther College Norse in the final three sets for a 22-25, 30-32, 25-22, 25-20, 15-11 American Rivers Conference victory Wednesday night.
The Dutch (14-8, 2-4 conference) ended a four-match losing streak against the Norse (5-18, 1-4 conference) with their comeback victory.
“Our theme this year is resilient as one,” coach Jeanne Czipri said. “After losing a set 32-30, a lot of teams would have been deflated. Tonight is a great example of us just gutting it out and battling back. I was really proud of our resilience.”
Playing a 5-1 offense for the first time all season, setter Amanda Smith (freshman, Tipton) nearly recorded a triple double. She had 55 assists along with nine kills and nine digs.
“She stepped up in an uncomfortable situation,” Czipri said. “I love that she’s a competitor and such a great athlete. She has a great instinct to take over and trust her hitters.”
Central was missing its second setter Alyssa Lewton (sophomore, Ankeny, Centennial HS) and third setter Ashley Moore (sophomore, Plainfield, Ill., Romeoville HS) due to injury.
A career-high 21 kills from outside hitter Ruth Hruska-Kelly (sophomore, Brookfield, Ill., Riverside-Brookfield HS) came with a .302 hitting percentage on 43 attempts. Krissa Larson (sophomore, outside hitter, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) also had 16 kills.
“We kept trying to figure out where to put them in order to get the best out of both of them,” Czipri said. “Ruth has put in a lot of work mentally and emotionally to try and find a way to get things done and she did a great job tonight.”
Libero Landry Luhring (sophomore, Grundy Center) had 19 digs and defensive specialist Sam Worley (freshman, Olathe, Kan., Northwest HS) had 12. Middle hitter Kayleigh Fite (junior, Florissant, Mo., Trinity Catholic HS) had five service aces.
The Dutch are headed to Madison, Wisconsin for a triangular against Edgewood College (Wis.) and Lakeland College (Wis.) on Saturday. Matches are set for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
