Ashley Ellingson Oct. 16, 2008

Central leaves New Jersey with split

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J.—The Central College volleyball squad was unable to pull off a comeback against Stevens Institute (N.J.) but made quick work of Centenary College (N.J.) in a pair of East Coast matches.  

The Dutch left Iowa in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a match against Coe College.

“It certainly was not an ideal schedule,” said head coach Kent Clayberg. “But we did some things that we felt were important and I think this will be good experience for us.”

Clayberg said that the travel schedule did not have anything to do with Central playing poorly in their first match.

Megan Callahan (senior, Dubuque, Wahlert HS) and Miranda Kouba (senior, Dubuque, Wahlert HS) led the Dutch offensively against Stevens. Callahan had 17 assists in the match and Kouba recorded 11 kills. Jenna Gillette (junior, Caledonia, Ill., Belvidere HS) had 15 digs in the loss.

A host of players were involved in the second match win over Centenary. Michelle Ripperger (junior, Urbandale) had eight kills to lead the Dutch while Caitlin Kouba (freshman, Dubuque, Wahlert HS) had six, and Dena Christian (junior, Story City, Roland-Story HS) and Maggie Snyder (freshman, Alexandria, Minn., Jefferson HS) each had 10 assists.

“It was good for us to get to use every player on the roster,” said Clayberg. “They’re all working just as hard in practice every day, and it’s a nice chance to let them run the show for a little while.”

Central (12-13 overall, 4-1 Iowa Conference) plays two more in New York Friday at Baruch College, first against host Baruch (N.Y.) at 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) and then at 6 p.m. against Montclair State (N.Y.). Baruch enters the match with a 14-14 record and Montclair State is 15-9.