Volleyball splits on final day of Border Battle
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Simpson volleyball team capped off a successful weekend at the 2009 IIAC – MIAC border battle hosted by Loras College, beating Gustavus Adolphus, 3-2 (26-24, 19-25, 25-14, 18-25, 15-10) in the tournament finale after losing a tightly contested match to No. 19 St. Benedict, 3-1 (16-25, 25-17, 25-27, 22-25). Simpson finished the tournament with a 3-1 record.
Simpson (11-9, 3-1 IIAC) placed second in the Iowa-half of the Border Battle, with St. Benedict taking the title after finishing the weekend a perfect 4-0. Concordia also went 3-1, but Simpson finished ahead of the Cobbers by virtue of Simpson's head-to-head win Friday.
"Any time you can beat MIAC schools, you're pleased," head coach Lana Smith said. "Things are coming together for us. We're controlling the tempo, and we got a solid performance from our back court, which controlled our in-system game."
Whitney Oviatt's team-leading 60 kills combined with a .261 attack percentage on the weekend helped her earn a spot on the all-tournament team. The senior also accumulated 20 blocks and eight service aces in Storm's four matches, both team-highs.
"We got great performances form Whitney and Megan Dunlavy," Smith said. "Our outsides have been steady and our middles are coming along."
Dunlavy completed the weekend with a .256 attack percentage, adding 46 kills to the effort.
With the three wins, Simpson improved its all-time record in the Border Battle to 14-10, the best of any Iowa Conference team.
"Our transition offense was in rhythm," Smith said. "We were getting the ball to (setter) Tara Christensen in rhythm, and Rebecca Westphal made a big impact for us, along with Brittany Friesth. We also served very tough, which doesn't allow better teams to get in and run their offense."
Entering the weekend with a 1-4 record in five-set matches, the Storm went 2-0 in such contests on the weekend, knocking off No. 6 St. Thomas in five sets on Friday and Gustavus on Saturday.
Simpson's first match of the day Saturday against St. Benedict was a re-match from the first weekend of the season, when the Storm split with the then-No. 10 Blazers at the Puget Sound Premiere Volleyball Tournament. Simpson is now 1-2 against St. Benedict on the year.
Against the Blazers Saturday, Oviatt led the way with 19 kills and a .472 hitting percentage. She also charted a match-high nine blocks. Dunlavy added 11 kills and Lara Gillespie chipped in with 10 kills and 12 digs. Christensen handed out 41 assists and Friesth came up with 15 digs.
In the final match of the tournament, the Storm did away with a pesky Gustavus Adolphus team in five sets. Gillespie came alive with 18 kills, her high for the weekend. McKayle Croghan turned in an efficient performance, hitting .444 on nine kills in 18 attempts with only one error. Christensen's 47 assists were a match-high, as were Friesth's 25 digs.
Simpson will look to improve upon its 3-1 record in conference play Wednesday, when the Storm faces Central at Cowles Fieldhouse. On Wednesday, Simpson will observe breast cancer awareness month by taking part in the nation-wide Dig Pink is a Breast Cancer Awareness Rally, which is meant to help educate and raise funds to eradicate breast cancer.