Kouba attack Nov. 8, 2007

Central advances in NCAA tourney

 

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Outside hitter Miranda Kouba (junior, Dubuque, Wahlert HS) had 15 kills and hit a sizzling .517 as the No. 17 Central College volleyball team raced past No. 25 Carleton College (Minn.) 30-24, 30-20, 30-21 in the opening round of NCAA Division III tournament play Thursday.

The Dutch (27-8) move on to regional semifinal match Friday at 7 p.m. They’ll face the winner of a late Thursday match between No. 12 host, the Univ. of St. Thomas (Minn.) (26-4), and Wis.-Eau Claire (22-10).

Kouba also led the Dutch with 19 digs in Central’s first NCAA tournament win since 2001, snapping a four-match playoff skid. The Dutch improved their all-time NCAA tourney record to 21-7.

 “Miranda was a monster,” coach Kent Clayberg said. “She hit every shot in the book and made a score with all of them. She played outstanding defense as well. It was fun to watch.”

Outside hitter Allison Ripperger (senior, Urbandale) added 13 kills and 14 digs while middle hitter Lindsay Jennings (sophomore, Atkins, Benton HS) registered 11 kills and six blocks, hitting .474. The Dutch hit .294 overall. Setter Terri Berger (senior, Sioux City, Heelan HS) had 48 assists and nine kills with right-side hitter Whitney Taylor (senior, Eddyville, Eddyville-Blakesburg HS) getting seven kills.

“We gave the players the game plan and they just ran it perfectly,” Clayberg said.

Clayberg also cited all-Iowa Conference middle hitter Katie Johnson (senior, Johnston), who had a relatively quiet offensive night with five kills but had an effective defensive performance.

“We put Katie on their top hitter and she held her to five kills in three games,” Clayberg said. “She did a fantastic job.”    

Jenna Gillette (sophomore, Caledonia, Ill., Belvidere) was pressed into action as a defensive specialist when Megan Callahan (junior, Dubuque, Wahlert HS) suffered a freak injury during the team’s morning workout. Gillette responded with 12 digs.

“Jenna stepped right in and did a really nice job,” Clayberg said.

Carleton (19-6) had swept the Dutch 30-24, 30-20, 30-21 at the IIAC-MIAC Border Battle in Indianola Oct. 5. But after a narrow victory in game one Thursday, Central was in control. The Dutch were up by as much as 23-18 in the first game before Carleton tied it at 26-26. Central took three of the next four points with Berger getting the decisive kill.

In game two, sprinted to a 17-10 advantage. Carleton cut the gap to 22-21, only to have the Dutch close with an 8-2 flurry. Central jumped to a 14-7 lead in the third game as the Knights never got closer than five points the rest of the way. Taylor delivered the clinching kill.

Central did not face Wis.-Eau Claire this fall but upset St. Thomas at Indianola Oct. 6, 30-25, 30-26, 24-30, 20-30, 15-12. However Clayberg and his players are looking to avenge a first-round NCAA tournament loss at St. Thomas in 2005 when the Dutch took a 2-0 lead only to have the Tommies pull out a five-game victory 28-30, 28-30, 30-24, 30-15, 15-12.

Whether the Dutch have to face St. Thomas on its home floor again or take on Wis.-Eau Claire, Clayberg knows his team faces a daunting challenge.

“But with this group of players, I don’t care what the situation is, they’ll find a way to make it hard for whomever we play,” he said.           

NCAA Division III regional
at Univ. of St. Thomas (Minn.), St. Paul, Minn.
Thursday’s first-round results
No. 8 Wis.-Whitewater def. No. 21-Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.) 30-26, 30-23, 30-22
No. 23 Bethel (Minn.) def. No. 24 St. Benedict (Minn.) 30-19, 30-28, 30-23
No. 17 Central def. No. 25 Carleton (Minn.) 30-27, 30-23, 30-21
9:30 p.m.--No. 12 St. Thomas (Minn.) (26-4) vs. Wis.-Eau Claire (22-10)

Friday’s semifinal schedule
4:30 p.m.--No. 8 Wis.-Whitewater (32-4) vs. No. 23 Bethel (Minn.) (24-8)
7 p.m.—No. 12 St. Thomas (Minn.) (26-4)-Wis.-Eau Claire (22-10) winner vs. Central (27-8)

Saturday’s regional championship
7 p.m.—Semifinal winners

Regional champion advances to eight-team national finals Nov. 15-17 at Bloomington, Ill.