Tournament ends with Central volleyball sweep

ST. PAUL, MINN.— The Central College volleyball team picked up its second win of the Macalaster Invitational with a 3-0 sweep of Bethany Lutheran College Saturday afternoon.

In the first game of the day, Central (4-3) lost 3-1 against the University of Wisconsin – River Falls (6-1) with a score line of 14-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-18.

The Dutch took all three sets from the Vikings (2-5), 25-20, 25-19, 25-18.

Spreading the wealth on the attack, four Central players had at least six kills. Ruth Hruska-Kelly (sophomore, right side hitter, Riverside, Ill., Riverside-Brookfield HS) had nine on 17 attempts.

“Bethany Lutheran played a very different style,” coach Jeanne Czipri said. “While we fell short in discipline wise at times, we were happy to have a balanced offense to help us get the win.

Libero Landry Luhring (sophomore, Grundy Center) had a team-high 19 digs and two service aces in the victory. Freshman outside hitter Natalie Gasynzki (Huntley, Ill.) had 15.

In the loss against the Falcons, seniors Tori Van Velzen (middle hitter, Cumming, Norwalk HS) and Erin Dilger (middle hitter, Tinley Park, Ill., Lincoln Way-North HS) led the way with nine kills apiece.

“We were eager to embrace the challenge today against River Falls,” Czipri said. “Kudos to them for finding their groove after the first set. We learned some good lessons from that match and were grateful the opportunity to be pushed in a new way.”

The Dutch have four matches in Galesburg, Illinois next weekend at the Knox Invitational, starting with Monmouth College (Ill.) and Iowa Wesleyan on Friday.

“I think we are really starting to figure out where we are strongest and where we need to develop as a group and as individuals,” Czipri said.