Central Opens in Second in Northwest Iowa Women’s Golf Tourney

Navigating stiff winds on wide-open terrain, the Central College women’s golf team opened in second place in the 15-team, 36-hole Siouxland Invitational on Wednesday.

Just a shot behind first-place Morningside College, the Dutch shot 324 at the par-72 Landsmeer Golf Club. Northwestern College, which is co-hosting the tourney with Dordt College, is third at 330 and American Rivers foe Nebraska Wesleyan University stands 12th at 385. Central and Nebraska Wesleyan are the only Division III schools in the field.

Mackenzie Biggs shot 77 and is tied for third individually. Kelsey Heath of Mount Marty University (S.D.) leads with 75. Lydia Grond and Rachel Sohn shot 82, Peyton Bytnar shot 83 and Avery Woods had 91. At-large entrant Parker Stout shot 85, Mickey Martens shot 94 and Jaden Smith shot 95.

The tourney moves to the Ridge Golf Club in nearby Sioux Center for Thursday’s final round.

Hat Trick for Coates in Dutch Women’s Soccer Win

The goals came early and often for the Central College women’s soccer team in a 5-0 romp against the University of Northwestern-St. Paul (Minn.) Wednesday.

It took Grace Coates less than seven minutes to get her second brace of the season for Central (2-0-1) with goals at the 2:26 and 6:34 marks. She reached her second-career hat trick at 51:10 with her third goal. She later added an assist on the game’s fifth goal. Central also had goals from Paige Cahill and Abby Frey in the 46th and 77th minute, respectively. Additionally, Cahill assisted on the second goal by Coates. Amber Santana had assists on the first two goals of the second half. It was a homecoming of sorts for midfielder MiMi Pavelka who was playing in her home state for the second time at Central. Goalkeepers Zoey Sizemore and Bailey Lester split a shutout. Sizemore made four saves in 67 minutes and Lester made two in 23 minutes.

The Dutch are back home on Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. match against North Park University (Ill.).

Central Volleyball Team Takes Down Clarke

For the third time this season, the Central College volleyball team won a match in straight sets by defeating Clarke University 25-23, 25-18, and 26-24 Wednesday night.

With Central (3-1) trailing 24-21 in the third set and at risk of losing its sweep, senior middle hitter Elyse Johnson took over. She ended the Pride (1-8) rally with a kill and then had back-to-back service aces to tie the set score. Fellow middle hitter Emma Wagler polished it off with consecutive blocks to end the night. Johnson totaled five kills, four blocks and two aces. Wagler finished with nine kills and four blocks. Outside hitter Leslie Snow and setter Avery Rexroat both had double-doubles. Snow had 12 kills and 11 digs while Rexroat had 27 assists and 11 digs. Libero Colleen Kenney had 17 digs. Setter Makyla Ribble and outside hitter Gracie Pierson each had three service aces.

Central plays four matches this Friday and Saturday in Raleigh, North Carolina at events hosted by Meredith College (N.C.) and William Peace University (N.C.).