Storm record sweep of Luther in home opener

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Jessica Jacobs knocked down 19 kills and the Simpson College volleyball team hit a season-high .261 in its first American Rivers Conference victory of the season over Luther.

The Storm (7-7, 1-1 A-R-C) pushed their win streak to three with a set scores of 25-23, 25-20 and 25-13.

In a first set that saw 13 ties and eight lead changes, Simpson relied heavily on the powerful swing of Jacobs as she tallied 10 of the team's 15 kills in the frame. The Storm broke an 18-18 tie with four-straight points and had to fend off a late Norse rally after they came back to even things at 23-23. A kill by Autumn Finch and a block by Finch and Elizabeth Conroy eventually put the first set away for the hosts.

Simpson's offense was more dispersed in the second set as Camryn McKay knocked down six kills, Jacobs added five and Peyton Mitchell had four. All but two of McKay's kills came in the dying moments of the set as she ignited a 6-2 run with back-to-back kills before adding another pair in the final four points.

The Storm pulled away early in set three, hitting .357 overall and using a 13-2 scoring spree to take a 19-7 lead. Simpson had five aces during the frame, getting two from both Mitchell and Jacobs.

Defensively, the Storm held Luther (3-8, 0-2 A-R-C) to a .119 hitting clip. Ellie Gray, Ragan Shelgren and Marissa Salber all tallied nine digs in the effort, while Iman Ghalibaf added eight and Kaylee McAninch chipped in six. Conroy, Finch, Mitchell and Salber all got their hands on a block. 

Jacobs posted 19 kills to lead the team, her fourth straight match with 15+ kills. McKay was one away from double figures and Mitchell and Conroy each had five kills. Salber amassed 35 assists.

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Simpson has a week off before hosting Buena Vista inside North Gym at Indianola High School. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m.