Posted: Aug 25, 2014

Volleyball looks for continued growth in 2014

Featuring an experienced lineup that triggered a turnaround season in 2013, the Simpson volleyball team is looking for continued improvement in 2014.

The Storm won 14 of their first 17 games a year ago en-route to a birth in the Iowa Conference Tournament. A first round exit put an end to a 17-14 campaign, a season which 15th-year head coach Lana Smith hopes is a building block for the future.

Headlining a long list of returners is junior outside hitter, Tabitha Blaser. A two-time Honorable Mention all-Iowa Conference performer, Blaser led the team with 349 kills a year ago. Opposite Blaser is sophomore, Kat Wetjen. As a freshman, Wetjen broke into the starting lineup and complemented Blaser to the tune of 278 kills, second-most on the team.

Smith has a pair of viable options in the middle, as junior MacKenzie McGraw and sophomore Torey Buenger have both shone flashes of dominance. McGraw's 44 blocks are the most of any returner and her 157 kills were fourth on the team. Buenger came on strong at the end of the season and closed the year with a team-best .257 hitting percentage.

For the third year in a row, Katie Kieffer will be in charge of getting the ball to the talented front line. A junior, Kieffer has led the team in assists the past two seasons and was an honorable mention all-conference pick in 2012.

The loss of defensive specialists Audrey Schuttler and Kim Rogers opens the door for a new libero in 2014. The top contender for the spot is Kira Klepel, who appeared in 29 matches a year ago and tallied 161 digs.

In all, Simpson returns eight letterwinners and four starters from a year ago.

The Storm open the 2014 slate in Colorado Springs, Colo. for the Colorado College Invitational on Aug. 29-30. The home opener is set for Sept. 17 when Wartburg visits Cowles Fieldhouse.

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