PELLA--It was a promising day but a disappointing finish as the Central College volleyball team split a pair of matches at the Iowa Conference-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Crossover Friday.
               
The Dutch (7-8) were 25-15, 26-24, 25-12 winners over Benedictine University (Ill.) in the opener, but couldn't close the deal against Lakeland College (Wis.), 25-20, 25-17, 22-25, 25-19, 15-8.
               
Outside hitters Kylie Gerstein (senior, Iowa Falls, Iowa Falls-Alden HS) and Mollie Mason (senior, Iowa City, West HS) each had 12 kills against Lakeland (5-12) while right-side hitter Melissa Miller (junior, Williamsburg) had nine. Middle hitter Jenna Dille (senior, Carlisle) had a solo block and seven block assists. Setters Chapel Carter (junior, Coronado Springs, Colo.) and Regan Nelson (senior, Pella) had 27 and 24 assists, respectively.
               
"We know how to do it," coach Jeanne Czipri said. "But the conversation we just had (in the locker room) was that we've got to demand better of our teammates, because that's what family does."
               
"We have the tools, we have the offense, we have the defense, we have the setting, we just have to find a way to play to win and do the things we need to do. We knew that it would be a battle. Lakeland (5-12) is a great defensive team. But we made some things way harder than they need to be."
               
The Dutch were more efficient against Benedictine (1-12), needing just one hour and 15 minutes for the victory. Dille had 11 kills and hit .500. Carter had 15 assists and Nelson had 14.
               
Central takes on Wisconsin Lutheran at noon at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium, then tackles Milwaukee School of Engineering (Wis.) at 4 p.m. The Dutch swept MSOE 25-16, 25-19, 25-20 Sept. 8 at the MSOE tourney in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
               
"Wisconsin Lutheran is a high-energy team," Czipri said. "We battled MSOE two weeks ago and won, so they'll be out for us.
               
"We've just got to get one percent better tomorrow."