Simpson drops five-set match at Central

PELLA, Iowa – Despite three players with double-digit kills, the Simpson volleyball team dropped a hard-fought, 3-2 (21-25, 25-21, 25-14, 19-25, 15-8) decision to Central on Wednesday.

Ashley Pedersen had nine kills and the Dutch (4-11, 1-4 Iowa Conference) scored 27 points on blocks, led by nine block assists from Hannah Welter.

Central hit .201 as a team compared to .074 for Simpson.

Tabitha Blaser had a match-high 16 kills for the Storm (5-14, 1-3), who where hurt by a season-high 40 attack errors. Steph Keller had 13 kills and MacKenzie McGraw added 10.

Down 2-1 in the match, Simpson sprinted out to a 14-2 lead in the fourth set en-route to the win. A kill by Keller provided the winning point, forcing the fifth set.

The fifth set didn't go as well for Simpson, as Central got out to an 11-2 lead. A kill from McKaylie Croghan gave Simpson the serve, which sparked a 4-0 run and brought Simpson within 11-6.

But it was too little, too late as Central claimed its first conference win of the season.

Kim Rogers had a game-high 21 digs for the Storm, who go to the Wartburg Knights Classic this weekend.