Central College capped one of the most dominant runs in NCAA Division III volleyball history just over 20 years ago. On Dec. 2, 2000, before a raucous sellout crowd at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium, the Dutch captured their third straight national title with a 15-10, 18-16, 15-3 decision over the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Central had defeated Washington University of St. Louis (Mo.) in the semifinals the previous night. Central roared through the season with a 40-2 mark. Only one of the squad’s 40 wins was even extended to five sets. The Dutch were a combined 118-4 over the three championship seasons.

Middle hitter Candace Wilson DuRegger ’01, the Division III player of the year, recently looked back at that season and their time at Central in a joint interview with Central Athletics Communications Coordinator Larry Happel, and noted the intense atmosphere that night.