MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS — Opening up its three-match stint at the Monmouth College Tournament Friday night., the Central College volleyball team took down the Milwaukee School of Engineering (Wis.) in straight sets 25-21, 25-10, 25-16
           
In the first set, the lead changed sides six times, and the score was tied eight times.
           
"We started a little slow," coach Jeanne Czipri said. "We really got things going on Avery Rexroat's (junior, Macomb, Ill.) serving in that second set."
           
Central had 10 aces as a team with Rexroat recording two of them. Paige Sexton (sophomore, Sheridan, Ill., Serena HS) had four and Collen Kenney (sophomore, Taylor Ridge, Ill., Rock Island Alleman HS) had three.
           
The Dutch offense had 36 kills and a .237 hitting percentage, committing just 14 attack errors. Sexton led the way with eight kills while Kaitlyn Mumm (Waukee, Des Moines Christian HS) and Gracie Pierson (senior, Lake City, Minn.) each had seven. Makayla Ribble (junior, Iowa City) had 16 assists and Rexroat had nine.
           
Defensively, Kenney had 15 digs while Mumm and Emma Wagler (senior, Des Mines, Roosevelt HS) each had three solo blocks.
           
"I like how clean our offense was in set three," Czipri said. "And our defense cleaned up a lot more as the match went on. We still have a ton to work on to be ready for conference, but I like the progress I'm seeing in different areas and players."
           
Central has two more matches at the Monmouth tournament Saturday, squaring off with Knox College (Ill.) at 2 p.m. and Westminster College (Mo.) at 4 p.m.
           
"Tomorrow is going to challenge us in two very different ways with two extremely different opponents," Czipri said.