Kieffer, Blaser named Honorable Mention All-Conference

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Simpson freshmen Katie Kieffer and Tabitha Blaser ended their rookie seasons with honorable mention nods to the 2012 All-Iowa Conference Volleyball Team, the league announced last week.

The duo was a key part of Simpson's balanced attack in 2012, as Kieffer surpassed the 1,000 assist plateau and Blaser led the team in hitting percentage.

A setter from Dubuque, Iowa, Kieffer closed the season with 1,043 assists, the most by a Simpson setter since All-American Tara Christensen in 2009. She averaged 8.21 assists per set and had 30 service aces. Kieffer's best outing came in the final match of the season, tallying 65 assists in a five-set loss to William Penn on Oct. 27. During the year she was named to the all-tournament teams at the Simpson and UW-Platteville Invitationals.

An outside hitter from Forrest City, Iowa, Blaser finished the season with 289 kills and a team-high .219 hitting percentage. She shined against Iowa Conference opponents, leading the team with 67 kills in seven matches while hitting .233. Like Kieffer, Blaser had her best outing of the season in Simpson's final match, going off for 24 kills against William Penn.

The Storm went 12-22 in 2012, including a 1-6 mark in the Iowa Conference. Warburg's Ramey Sieck was named the league's Most Valuable Player and head coach Jennifer Walker was the Coach of the Year. Dubuque outside hitter Klaudia Basierak took home Freshman of the Year honors.

In contrast to past season, the coaches named just a single 15-member all-conference team in 2012. In 2011, 24 players were honored: eight first team members, eight second team members and eight honorable mentions.