Thieves broke into Central College volleyball team vans late Friday night, swiping the players’ equipment and personal belongings and leaving the Dutch unable to continue play at the Trinity University Fall Classic. The squad had played two matches Friday and went directly to a restaurant at about 8:15 p.m. The thieves struck while the team was in the restaurant, breaking into the locked vehicles and picking them clean. Most of the players lost cash, credit cards and personal IDs as well as uniforms and equipment. Even ankle braces, a player’s knee brace and an insulin pump were stolen. The Dutch were slated to play Our Lady of the Lake at 10:30 a.m. and tournament host Trinity at three. Central is scheduled to travel to Decorah to take on Luther College Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Central’s Interim A.D., Eric Van Kley, said it’s not yet certain that everything can be replaced by then but that athletics department staff members have already been in contact with equipment suppliers.

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