PELLA — A strong start by the Central College volleyball team was vanquished after Loras College stormed back from down 2-0 to win in five sets Friday night inside P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium.
The Dutch (11-15, 1-5 American Rivers Conference) won the first two sets 26-25, 26-15 but wound up losing the match 24-26, 15-25, 25-20, 25-16, 15-9 to the Duhawks (16-8, 3-3 conference).
Tori Van Velzen's (junior, middle hitter, Cumming, Norwalk HS) two solo blocks and nine assisted blocks were part of 14.0 blocks for the Dutch front line.
Krissa Larson (freshman, outside hitter, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) and
Melissa Miller (senior, rightside hitter, Williamsburg) each had five total blocks.
"We did a great job of tracking," coach
Jeanne Czipri said. "I think our block kept us in it. Tori made some great touches. Krissa did a good job of lining up where we needed her to. Melissa really started to find her groove towards the end."
The only Dutch hitter in double figure kills was
Erin Dilger (junior, rightside hitter, Tinley Park, Ill., Lincoln-Way North HS), who had 13 kills on 27 attempts (.333 hitting percentage).
"Offensively, Erin did some fantastic things," Czipri said. "She found shots and didn't make a lot of errors. We needed to find her the ball more."
Middle hitter
Hana Edgerton (junior, Grundy Center) had an efficient six kills, only taking 19 attempts (.316 hitting percentage).
Setter
Chapel Carter (senior, Colorado Springs, Coronado HS) had her fourth double-double of the season after notching 11 digs to go with her 14 assists.
Alyssa Lewton (freshman, setter, Ankeny, Centennial HS) had 18 assists.
"For Chapel, it's about keeping a calm composure defensively," Czipri said. "She can make some plays when she's disciplined. We are on her all the time about being defensive first so this is something we definitely want to celebrate with her."
Central returns to the court at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. for another conference match against the University of Dubuque.
