Volleyball falls to Loras in IIAC first round

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Simpson volleyball team's turnaround season came to an end with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-22, 25-17) loss to Loras in the first round of the Iowa Conference Tournament on Tuesday night.

A year after going 12-22 and missing out on the conference tournament for the second year in a row, the Storm went 17-14 in 2013 and made the IIAC Tournament as the No. 6 seed.

Kara Grant had nine digs and Danielle Kennedy finished with five blocks to lead the fourth-seeded Duhawks (15-16), who advance to face second-seeded Coe in the semifinals.

Tabitha Blaser led the Storm with eight kills and Torey Buenger added six.

Offense was hard to come by for the Storm as Loras held a 32-17 edge in kills and out-hit Simpson .247-.010. 

Three seniors played their final match for head coach Lana Smith: defensive specialists Kim Rogers and Audrey Schuttler and middle hitter Morgan Terpstra.