Storm wins rematch, conference championship
WAVERLY, Iowa (Oct. 27, 2009) – With the conference championship on the line, the Simpson volleyball team answered the call.
The preseason pick to win the Iowa Conference, Simpson clinched the regular season championship with a thrilling 3-2 win over Wartburg (17-25, 25-21, 25-13, 28-30, 15-10) Tuesday night at Levick Arena.
With the win, the Storm (18-10, 7-1 IIAC) earns the top seed and a first-round bye in the six-team Iowa Conference Tournament, while avenging a 3-2 loss to Wartburg earlier in the season at the Simpson Invitational.
The teams entered the night with one conference loss a piece.
"I'm really proud of the girls," head coach Lana Smith said. "The seniors play with so much heart and the young kids have completely bought in. Tonight was a true team effort; everyone, from the starters to the role players did what they had to do."
For the first time since 2006, the conference tournament returns to Cowles Fieldhouse in Indianola, and will take place Nov. 6-7. Simpson won the tournament the last time it played the role of host, an accomplishment Smith hopes to duplicate in 2009.
"Being the top seed is a huge advantage," Smith said. "As much traveling as we do during the season it's nice to remain in familiar surroundings and play in front of the home fans."
Megan Dunlavy (So., MH, Bettendorf, Iowa) continued her late season surge with 15 kills and a .364 attack percentage in the match. In the last seven matches, Dunlavy is hitting a blistering .448 in a 6-1 stretch for the Storm.
Lara Gillespie (Sr., OH, Lake Park, Iowa) led the team with 18 kills, adding 24 digs for a game-high 20 points. The Wartburg defense keyed on Gillespie, though, holding the Storm's leader in kills to a .149 attack percentage. Whitney Oviatt (Sr., MH, Carnation, Wash.) slapped 16 kills and registered a block-solo and three block-assists.
Tara Christensen (Sr., S, Hinton, Iowa) had a game-high 58 assists, two off a season high, while Brittany Friesth (Sr., L, Adel, Iowa) achieved a season-high with 32 digs.
Simpson also got a big effort from freshman McKaylie Croghan (OH, Manning, Iowa), who reached double-digit kills for the third time this season with a career-high 11, committing only one error for a .370 attack percentage. Croghan also chipped in with six assists.
"The girls knew we had some unfinished business from last year," Smith said of the team's second place finish in both the regular season and conference tournament in 2008. "We are looking forward to the tournament, which will be an absolute dog fight. There are a number of teams playing some of their best volleyball right now, so it should be a great tournament."
The Knights (12-15, 5-2 IIAC) suffered their second straight IIAC loss after dropping a 3-1 decision at Luther Oct. 21. Wartburg – which defeated the Storm at the Simpson Invitational in five sets earlier this season – is now one of three teams with identical 5-2 conference marks.
Britlyn Sieck paced the Knights with 16 kills and a .250 attack percentage, followed by Kahri Heinemann with 12 kills and a .214 attack percentage. Britney Hermsen handed out 39 assists and Channing Merchant had 22 digs.
Simpson takes to the road for the final regular-season tournament of the season this weekend at the UW-Whitewater Invitational in Whitewater, Wis. Simpson is set to face Milikin and UW-Platteville at 5 and 7 p.m. Friday and No. 9 Carthage and UW-Whitewater at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.
