Dutch volleyball team serves up a win against Wartburg

PELLA – Sustained success at the service line was key to a Central College volleyball victory over Wartburg College Friday night.

The Dutch (19-7, 4-2 American Rivers Conference) dispatched the Knights (15-10, 4-2 conference) in four sets 25-20, 25-16, 13-25, 25-17.

“Not everybody had the cleanest match, but players showed up when we needed them to show up,” coach Jeanne Czipri said. “I’m proud of us working through some tough situations.”

The statistics show six service aces for Central, led by three from setter Avery Rexroat (junior, Macomb, Ill.), but Czipri believes her team’s success in service and receive was better than those numbers.

“I think what won us the match tonight was our aggressive serving and passing,” she said. “For us to pass with only five reception errors against one of the stronger serving teams in this conference is something I really want to celebrate.”

Paige Sexton (sophomore, Sheridan, Ill., Serena HS) and Landry Pacha (sophomore, Wellman, Mid-Prairie HS) both had 11 kills and high hitting percentages of .421 and .364, respectively. Kaitlyn Koel (freshman, right-side hitter, Sioux Falls, S.D., Lincoln HS) also had nine kills.

“It’s a testament to our setters doing their homework and making sure their working hard with their eyes,” Czipri said. “Our setters did an exceptional job putting our hitters in good situations and then letting them do the work.”

Rexroat had 20 set assists and Makayla Ribble (junior, Iowa City) had 18.

Spreading around 52 digs as a team, libero Colleen Kenney (junior, Taylor Ridge, Ill., Rock Island, Alleman HS) was the only one in double figures with 18.

Central celebrates Senior Day on Saturday at 11 a.m. against Coe College.