Kieffer reaches milestone in volleyball loss

PELLA, Iowa - Katie Kieffer achieved a career milestone but the Simpson volleyball team's Iowa Conference Tournament fate remains uncertain after a 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-22) loss at Central on Tuesday.

Emily Stoakes, Mollie Mason and Emily McDonald combined for 19 of Central's 35 kills as the Dutch (17-8, 4-3 Iowa Conference) out-hit Simpson .179-.030 on the night.

With four assists in the first set, Kieffer became just the seventh player in school history to record 3,000 career assists. She finished the night with 24, moving her career total to 3,020. 

Kieffer's top target on the night was Tabitha Blaser, who tallied a match-high 12 kills to lead the Storm (12-17, 2-5).

A win would have assured the Storm a spot in the six-team IIAC Tournament that begins Tuesday, Oct. 4. Now, Simpson must await the result of Wednesday's match between Dubuque and Loras.

Simpson fans are looking at three primary scenarios:

1. If Dubuque wins, Simpson gets in the tournament as the No. 6 seed.
2. If Loras wins in five sets, Simpson is still in as the No. 6 seed.
3. If Loras wins in less than five sets (3-0 or 3-1), Simpson is out.

Explanation: A Loras win creates a three-way tie between Simpson, Loras and Dubuque at 2-5 in conference play. The next step is to break the three-way tie by comparing set results between the three teams involved in the tie. Simpson is 4-5 in that case (3-2 W vs. Loras, 3-1 L vs. Dubuque). A 3-2 win by Loras puts Dubuque at 5-4, Loras at 5-5 and Simpson at 4-5. Thus, Dubuque is awarded the No. 5 seed. As per Iowa Conference Regulations, the tie-breaking criteria returns to the head-to-head result between Simpson and Loras to determine the higher seed. Even though Simpson would have a worse set record against teams in the three-way tie, Simpson would receive the No. 6 seed due to a 3-2, head-to-head win over Loras during the regular season. Now, a 3-0 or 3-1 win by Loras leaves the Duhawks atop the three-team tie with the No. 5 seed (Loras 5-3/5-4, Simpson 4-5, Dubuque 3-4/4-4). Moving back to the head-to-head result between Simpson and Dubuque, the Spartans would be awarded the No. 6 seed based on a 3-1 win during the regular season.