NIACC falls to Iowa Central, 3-1

FORT DODGE - The NIACC volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to Iowa Central in the opening round of the NJCAA Region XI-B tournament Wednesday.

Iowa Central won 22-25, 25-17, 25-13, 25-22.

"We ended our season (Wednesday) and we say goodbye to four dedicated sophomores who worked very hard the past two years," NIACC coach Chris Brandt said.

The regional tournament loss was the final match for NIACC sophomores Karlie Niedert, Bailey Walter, Amber Carter and Zoe Schneider.

Iowa Central advances to the regional final Saturday in Estherville. The Tritons face Kirkwood at 2 p.m.

Iowa Central (22-13) topped NIACC (17-17) three times this season by the score of 3-1. The Tritons won a nonconference contesst in Fort Dodge in August and topped the Lady Trojans in an ICCAC contest in September.

"We fought hard but came up short to a very aggressive Iowa Central offense," Brand said.

Freshman Kaylee Whittington led the Lady Trojans with 12 kills and freshman Aubury Coleman had nine kills. Niedert had seven kills.

Whittington finished her freshman season with 420 kills. Coleman was next in line for the Lady Trojans with 305 kills and Niedert totaled 251 kills.

Also for the Lady Trojans on Wednesday, freshman Hailey Winter collected 19 assists and freshman Jackie Bliefus has eight assists. Coleman led the way with six blocks and sophomore Walter had four blocks.

Liv Block had 14 digs and Whittington had 11 digs.