Local athletes Haley Brillhart and Chelsea Greiger of Pella and Kaurie Kincaid of Knoxville had big weekends for Central College athletics.
The Dutch volleyball team saw their nine match win streak snapped Saturday in the MIAC-IIAC Border battle. After winning a pair of matches Friday night, the Dutch were swept by Bethel, then were outlasted by 24th ranked St. Mary’s 3-2. Middle hitter Haley Brillhart had 15 kills against St. Mary’s . Defensive specialist Chelsea Grieger had 35 digs. Grieger was named to the all-tournament team. Iowa Conference teams posted a 6-10 record against their Minnesota rivals in the matches at Loras College. The Dutch are 14-5, and have a short time for a turnaround, taking on defending league champion Simpson College in a 7:30 p.m. Tuesday match at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium.
Central College’s Ali Miller never shot better than she did in Friday’s opening round of the Iowa Conference women’s golf tournament—until Saturday. The winds picked up and the temperatures dropped yet Miller and the surprising Dutch lowered their season-best score by another 14 shots and climbed to within four shots of defending champion Wartburg College at the tourney’s midway point. Miller, whose career-best round entering the weekend was an 84, fired an 80-76—156 at the par-72 Pheasant Ridge Golf Course and has a 3-shot lead in the medalist standings. Teammate Kaurie Kincaid is tied for second at 77-82—159. The Dutch stand at 658. Wartburg leads at 654 while Luther is third at 688. The challenge turns even tougher next week as the final two rounds of the 72-hole tournament are staged on Wartburg’s home course, Centennial Oaks. Tee times begin Friday at 10 a.m.
Brent Messmore turned in the day’s best round and lifted the Central College men’s golf team into second place at its own Ryerson Fall Classic Saturday. Competing in blustery conditions, Messmore finished at150 and placed second in the individual standings. Junior college power Indian Hills won the tournament at 612. On a day when scores were soaring, Central matched Indian Hills Saturday and closed at 621. Central’s second unit, the White squad, was third in the 10-team tournament at 638. The Central Black team was seventh at 685 and the Central Gray team was eighth at 693. The fall season is capped with the Twin Cities Classic Oct. 9-11 in Minnesota. Many of the region’s best NCAA Division III squads will take on three top Minneapolis-area courses in the 54-hole tournament. Central was 13th in a 23-team field last year.
It was a short day for the Central College men’s tennis team at the Midwest Open Saturday. Jacob Dreyer , who had an impressive run into the quarterfinals in a field of more than 100 players Friday, was eliminated Saturday morning. Dreyer and Seth Harris were also ousted in doubles. Dan Bowser and Kyle Freischlag were also defeated in doubles. The tourney completes Central’s abbreviated fall season.
Central College outshot Loras College 12-3 but couldn’t find the back of the net as the Dutch men’s soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision Saturday. Defending Iowa Conference champion Loras scored in the 21st minute after a Dutch foul allowed a free entry into the box. The Dutch are 8-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play and continue conference play against Luther at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Decorah. Refusing a Loras College shutout, the Central College women’s soccer team scored in the 89th minute before falling 7-1 Saturday. Freshman forward Alayna Bailey cracked the scoring column, unassisted, for her second season goal. The Dutch continue Iowa Conference play on the road next week, facing Luther at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Decorah.
The Central College women’s tennis team fell 9-0 to Luther before beating Wis.-Stout 7-2 Saturday. The Dutch head in the Iowa Conference tournament sporting an 8-6 overall record and a 4-3 mark against conference teams. The team tournament is played Friday and Saturday in Iowa City while the individual tournament is held in Cedar Rapids Oct. 15-16.