Christensen reaches 5,000 as Simpson sweeps UD
INDIANOLA, Iowa – Simpson sent its seniors off in style and Tara Christensen attached another milestone to her resume in the Storm's final home match of the season.
Playing at Cowles Fieldhouse for the final time during the regular season, the Simpson volleyball team cruised to a 3-0 victory over Dubuque (25-19, 25-20, 25-23) Wednesday night, closing the regular season home schedule with a perfect 4-0 record against Iowa Conference opponents.
Christensen, a senior setter from Hinton, Iowa, tallied 34 assists, surpassing the 5,000 mark for her career. Already the program's all-time assists leader after handing out 30 assists in a 3-1 win against Loras on Sept. 15, Christensen becomes the first player in the history of Simpson volleyball to reach the 5,000-assist plateau.
With the win and Wartburg's 3-0 defeat of Coe, Simpson secured a berth in 2009 Iowa Conference Championship.
As a team, the Storm (13-9, 5-1 IIAC) amassed a .320 hitting percentage while holding the Spartans (9-18, 1-5 IIAC) to .125.
With the celebration of senior night festivities, it was fitting that Simpson's charge be led by a pair of senior attackers in Lara Gillespie (OH, Lake Park, Iowa) and Whitney Oviatt (MH, Carnation, Wash.) Gillespie's 13 kills was a game high, adding 12 digs for the double-double. Oviatt contributed 10 kills and a .318 attack percentage.
Senior libero Brittany Friesth (Adel, Iowa) added to her program-leading career digs total with 14 on the night, giving her 2,050 on her career.
Megan Dunlavy's (So., OH., Bettendorf, Iowa) .375 hitting percentage paced the Storm, as she charted seven kills. Amy Schuster (Jr., OH, Indianola, Iowa) chipped in with six kills and a .357 attack percentage.
Dubuque's Katelyn Herrman turned in a seven-kill performance, leading the way for the Spartans. Bailey Abele and Carly Green each contributed six, as Sarah Gross dished out 20 assists and libero Kristen Mortensen had a game-high 21 digs.
In addition to Christensen, Gillespie, Oviatt and Friesth, seniors Rebecca Westphal (L, Fontanelle, Iowa) and Maggie Schuttler (OH, Algona, Iowa) also played in their last regular season match as members of the Storm. Westphal came away with three digs on the night and Schuttler – who has struggled with injuries the past two seasons – had a kill.
Simpson will hit the road this weekend, as the Storm travels to Chicago for the Elmhurst Invitational. There, Simpson will face Wheaton (Ill.), Concordia Chicago, Greensboro and Elmhurst. The match against Wheaton begins at 6 p.m. Friday.