Strong defense keys Luther against Simpson

INDIANOLA - Hannah Walker had a game-high 19 kills and Luther chalked up 7.5 blocks against Simpson in a 3-0 (26-24, 27-25, 25-21) win Wednesday night at Cowles Fieldhouse.

The top team in the league defensively in terms of blocks coming in, the Norse (7-8, 1-2 IIAC) held true to form against Simpson. Hannah Wilson registered five block assists and Emily Ellson had three block assists and a block solo, forcing Simpson into 25 attack errors.

"We have to play more consistent," Simpson head coach Lana Smith said. "We made too many errors tonight and we weren't keeping up with the flow of the match."

The Storm (6-8, 1-3 IIAC) also committed eight service errors on the night, dropping their first home match against the Norse since 1999, Smith's first year as head coach.

Megan Dunlavy (Bettendorf, Iowa) led Simpson with 11 kills while Amy Schuster (Indianola, Iowa) and Blaiqe Allshouse (Lamoni, Iowa) chipped in with nine kills a-piece. Schuster's .333 attack percentage led the way for Simpson.

Setter Lexie Hagerty (Tama, Iowa) distributed 29 assists for the Storm offense, which held a 40-36 edge over Luther in kills.

The road ahead doesn't get any easier for the Storm, as Simpson will face three AVCA Top-25 programs Oct. 1-2 at the IIAC-MIAC Border Battle in St. Cloud, Minn. Friday, Simpson faces No. 13 St. Olaf and St. Benedict before closing the tournament with No. 15 St. Thomas and No. 20 Concordia on Saturday.