Dubuque offense stymies volleyball in 3-1 loss

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Simpson volleyball team spotted Dubuque the first two sets and didn't have an answer for Klaudia Basierak in a 3-1 loss on Tuesday night.

Tabitha Blaser had a team-high 14 kills, Elisa Wildy had 11 and Katie Kieffer handed out 31 assists for the Storm (8-10, 1-3 Iowa Conference), who could have turned the match around in a crucial second set.

Down a set, Simpson took a 22-20 lead in the second on a Torey Buenger kill. Dubuque countered, however, going on a 4-0 run. Simpson fought back to 25-all, but Dubuque got a kill and an ace from Basierak to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.

Basierak had a match-high 18 kills to go along with 12 digs and four service aces for the Spartans (11-14, 2-2), who hit .237 as a team while holding Simpson to .126.

Basierak hit .311 and Hannah Zieser finished with 44 assists.

Simpson trailed 18-14 in the third set before rattling off four straight points, as kills by Kieffer and Blaser helped even the set at 18-all. Jacqueline Luth's kill gave Simpson a 24-21 lead and Kieffer finished it with another kill to extend the contest.

Dubuque never trailed in the decisive fourth set, leading by as much as seven.

Kieffer gave Simpson a shot late in the set, though, cutting the lead to two at 18-16 before Basierak came up with two kills as part of a 3-0 run to put it out of reach.

Up Next

The Storm travel to Elmhurst, Ill. this weekend for the Elmhurst Invitational. Play begins Friday, Oct. 10 when Simpson faces Bethany (W.V.) and St. Mary's (Ind.) beginning at 6 p.m.