Efficient Loras attack too much for Simpson

INDIANOLA - Regan Riley and Kate Russell had 13 kills a piece and Loras beat Simpson 3-1 at Cowles Fieldhouse on Wednesday night.

The duo led a sharp Loras team that hit .318 on the match while holding Simpson to a 0.50 hitting percentage. Simpson won game one, 25-21, before Loras rattled off the next three, 25-19, 25-14, 25-12.

Riley committed only one error in 28 attempts, hitting a game-high .429 for the Duhawks (9-1, 2-0 IIAC). Reining Iowa Conference Female Athlete of the Week, Brittney Westermeyer hit .400 with 10 kills. Julie Rogers and Kaity Frost directed the offense, as Rogers tallied 20 assists and Frost chipped in with 17. Five-different Duhawks reached double-digit digs.

After a fast start in the opening set, the Storm (4-4, 0-2 IIAC) battled a stout Loras defense the rest of the way. The Duhawks tallied 11.5 blocks on the night.

Amy Schuster (Indianola, Iowa) led Simpson with 11 kills, Lexie Hagerty (Tama, Iowa) distributed 33 assists and Monica Driscoll (Williamsburg, Iowa) scooped 15 digs. Megan Dunlavy (Bettendorf, Iowa) had six kills and one error in 20 attempts, leading the team with a .250 hitting percentage.

After dropping two consecutive conference matches, Simpson looks to get back on track this weekend at the Luther Invitational in Decorah. There, the Storm will meet Bluffton and No. 14 St. Thomas (Minn.) on Friday and No. 20 Nebraska Wesleyan and Viterbo on Saturday.