CEDAR RAPIDS — Heading into the Iowa Conference tournament, Central College volleyball coach Kent Clayberg believed he had a dangerous team. He was right.
Central avenged an early-season loss to Nebraska Wesleyan University 28-26, 25-18, 24-26, 25-22 to advance to the semifinals later Friday night. In the semifinal, Central faced league champion Wartburg College in the semifinal. Central fell 25-13, 25-13, 14-25, 25-10.
"We were able to battle back in the early part of the first set, which I think showed the resiliency our team had all year," said Clayberg. "From having our first match with Nebraska Wesleyan go to five sets, our women knew they would be able to battle with them."
Junior middle hitter Jenna Dille (Carlisle) was named to the all-Iowa Conference team Wednesday. She played like a first teamer on Friday night, leading the Dutch with 16 kills and blocked eight Nebraska Wesleyan attacks.
Central had two outside hitters post double-doubles against the Prairie Wolves. Mollie Mason (junior, Iowa City, West) had 15 digs with 13 kills and Kylie Gerstein (junior, Iowa Falls, Iowa Falls-Alden) had 16 digs with 11 kills. Mason also added a service ace.
Setters Chapel Carter (sophomore, Colorado Springs, Coronado) and Regan Nelson (junior, Pella) quarterbacked the Dutch offense with 44 combined assists, 24 and 20 respectively. Senior libero Nicole Ewoldt (Hull, Boyden-Hull) collected 27 digs and two service aces.
In the nightcap, the Dutch were led by Gerstein with 11 kills and six digs, Dille added nine kills. Carter and Nelson combined for 31 assists, 19 and 12 respectively. Ewoldt had 19 digs in her final match.
"The final match tonight did not end the way we wanted it to tonight but I am honored to be able to coach a team like this, said Clayberg. "The women love each other and will take care of each other tonight and over the next few days. This group was such a fun group to coach."
Central ends the season 14-15 overall with a 4-4 league record. The Dutch added three more conference wins than the 2015 squad. Clayberg's team will return plenty of experience next year with nine juniors coming back including Dille.
