Friesth becomes all-time digs leader as Storm split
TACOMA, Wash. – Brittany Friesth (Sr., Adel, Iowa) became Simpson's all-time digs leader as No. 25 Simpson split its final two games of the Puget Sound Premiere Saturday, upsetting No. 10 St. Benedict in the finale, 3-2.
Needing only six digs to become the program leader entering the day, Friesth took care of that in the second set of the Storm's first match of the day against No. 13 Pacific Lutheran. With 28 total digs on the day, Friesth moved her career total to 1,746, passing Amy Towbridge, who accumulated 1,723 digs from 1995-98.
Amy Schuster (Jr., Indianola, Iowa) earned a spot on the all-tournament team after tallying 34 kills and accumulating a .168 hitting percentage during Simpson's 1-3 weekend in Washington.
In the second match of the day, Simpson (1-3) defeated No. 10 St. Benedict (1-3), 3-2, only a day after being swept by the Blazers. The two teams split the first two sets before Simpson took the fifth and deciding set, 16-14. Megan Dunlavy (So., Bettendorf, Iowa) led four Storm hitters with more than 10 kills, totaling a match-high 15 kills.
Lara Gillespie (Sr., Lake Park, Iowa) added 12 kills while Schuster and Whitney Oviatt (Carnation, Wash.) each chipped in with 10. Oviatt dominated the Bennies defensively, taking part in nine total blocks in the match.
The Storm couldn't get things going in the first set of the day against the Lutes (4-1), who swept Simpson 25-14, 25-18 and 25-22.
Simpson returns to action Sept. 9, opening the Iowa Conference slate against Cornell at Cowles Fieldhouse. The match is set to start at 8:00 p.m.
