Box Score PELLA, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – The Loras College Women's Volleyball team took on the Central Dutch on Tuesday in the opening round of the Iowa Conference tournament. The Duhawks hopes of a conference tournament run fell short as Loras fell 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-16) to Central, ending their season.
After junior
Liz Jendra followed a kill up with an ace, a kill by sophomore
Therese Schultz leveled the opening set at 19. The momentum swinging kill forced a timeout by the Dutch. The break proved timely, as Central closed the set on a 6-0 run to take the set 25-19.
The Duhawks trailed 5-3 before kills by Jendra and sophomore
Tara Blake tied the set at five and sparked a Loras run. Behind kills from Schultz, Blake, and junior
Taylor Serrano, the Duhawks held a three point advantage, 8-5. The lead was quickly erased as the Dutch rattled off eight straight points to lead 13-5. A late rally by the Duhawks would fall short as Central earned the set two win, 25-18.
Trailing 2-0 in the match, the Duhawks season was on the line in the third set. The teams traded points in the early goings before the Dutch took control 14-5. Sophomore
Danni Kennedy led the late comeback push, but the early deficit was too much to overcome as Loras fell 25-16.
Match ChangerDespite holding an advantage in digs (51-48), the Duhawks could not combat Central's presence at the net as the Dutch held the advantage in blocks (8-2).
Key StatThe Duhawks were held to a season-low .000 hitting percentage while the Dutch hit .227 for the match.
Notables- Senior Courtney Boyd recorded four digs in her final match for the Duhawks.
- Junior Kara Kentner was held to a season-low three kills on Tuesday. With 17 assists and 10 digs, Kentner recorded her 12th double-double of the season.
- Freshman Haley Bergan tallied 16 digs in the loss, snapping her seven-game streak of at least 20 digs dating back to October 17.
- With the loss, the Duhawks were eliminated from the Iowa Conference tournament and end the 2014 season 14-19.
