Boxscore
PELLA – Wartburg College got out to a quick start Nov. 2 at Central College’s Kuyper Gymnasium, but the host Central College Dutch came back for a five-set Iowa Conference victory.
Coach Jennifer Walker’s team, closing the regular season at 20-15 and winding up third on the league standings with a 5-3 record, turned in a pair of .200-plus team attack percentages in the opening sets. Wartburg held a 2-0 advantage after 25-15, 25-23 wins.
From there, Central (20-12, 5-3 IIAC) rallied. They overcame a late 20-19 deficit in set three to win 25-21, held off several Knights’ comebacks in the fourth set for a similar win, and won 15-11 in the decisive fifth set.
Walker’s club got its offense from the duo of sophomore outside hitter Britlyn Sieck (Fayette) and junior middle hitter Kamille Van Natta (Readlyn). Sieck hammered 18 kills, a single-season match high and 24th time she’s been in double digits, while Van Natta added 17 kills, also a single-season match high and the 15th time she’s been in double figures. Sophomore middle hitter Monique Davisson (Cedar Rapids)chipped in a .400 attack percentage (six kills and no errors in 15 attempts) and four block assists.
Defensively, at the net, Sieck ended with a solo block and two block assists and freshman middle hitter Kelly Niemann (Fredericksburg)added a solo block and three assists to go along with Davisson’s effort. Freshman defensive specialist/libero Marissa Shinstine (Tripoli) topped the digs list with 22.
Wartburg opens 2010 IIAC tourney play as the third seed Friday, Nov. 5, at Loras College’s Wellness Center in Dubuque. The Knights take on sixth-seeded Luther at 4:30 in one of two quarterfinal round matches. The winner advances to a 7:30 p.m. match with second-seeded Cornell.
