The Central College volleyball team triumphantly returned to the win column Friday night with a 25-16, 25-15, 25-20 sweep over Fontbonne University. Playing at the Millikin Invitational, the Dutch (4-8) ended their seven-match losing streak by sweeping the Griffins (5-4) in straight sets.

As a team, Central had 37 kills with a .293 hitting percentage. Gracie Daniels had a team-high 13 kills and Natalie Gaszynski had six. The Dutch notched 14 service aces, including five from Amanda Smith and four from Elyse Johnson. Smith also had 19 set assists and Avery Rexroat had 13. Libero Ivett Flores had 15 digs and Gwen Kahlke added 10.

Central has two more matches at Millikin tomorrow, including against the host at 11 a.m. and Eureka College (Ill.) at 1 p.m.

The pairing of Matthew Den Adel and Ayden Fletcher was victorious in the opening round of doubles play in the ITA Division III Midwest Regional Friday.

Playing Sam Thompson and Sean Le of Hamline University (Minn.), Den Adel and Fletcher were 8-6 winners. They advance to the Round of 32.

In other doubles action, Caleb Hamerlinck and Nick Scott fell 8-2 against Ashwath Viswanathan and Zach Leslie of Carleton College (Minn.)

In singles, Fletcher lost 6-1, 6-3 to the No. 3 seed Cole Lindwall of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Hamerlinck lost 6-4, 6-1 against Jacob Zacharias of the University of Wisconsin – Superior.

Fletcher and Den Adel will continue with a second-round double matches Saturday morning. The other three entries will play in consolation matches.