MILWAUKEE, WIS.—Playing the first of three matches this weekend, the Central College volleyball team were victorious 28-26, 25-23, 25-21 against the Milwaukee School of Engineering Invitational Friday night.
           
The Dutch (7-6) held off a strong Raiders (9-6) squad in each set.
           
"I'm grateful that we played hard for each other tonight and that we found a way to get the job done," coach Jeanne Czipri said. "It wasn't a pretty win and kudos to the Raiders for making us work hard for all of our points."
           
Rachel Pella (junior, middle hitter Kansas City, Mo., Park Hill HS) had a team-high 11 kills and a .450 hitting percentage. Hallie Uhlig (senior, middle hitter, Colorado Springs, Colo., Palmer Ridge HS) added six more. Uhlig also had three blocks.
           
"Our middles worked hard to be an option, which really kept us in the game," Czipri said.
             
Amanda Smith (junior, setter, Tipton) had 25 assists and Landry Luhring (senior, libero, Grundy Center) had 14 digs. Gracie Pierson (freshman, outside hitter, Lake City, Minn.) had three service aces. Krissa Larson (senior, outside hitter, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) had nine kills.
           
Central has two more matches at the MSOE Invitational on Saturday. The Dutch play Lawrence University (Wis.) at noon and Mount Mary University (Wis.) at 4 p.m.