Storm volleyball opens 2020 schedule at home
INDIANOLA, Iowa -- For the first time since 2002, the Simpson volleyball team will start its season in front of its home crowd with a match on Tuesday, Sept. 1 against Grinnell.
The 2020 slate features three teams that reached the NCAA Division III National Tournament last season: Dubuque, Grinnell and Westminster (Mo.). The Pioneers fell to Carthage, which reached the tournament semifinals.
After opening the season at home, the Storm hit the road for the next five matches. From Sept. 4-5, Simpson takes part in the Kathryne Pals Legacy Invitational, hosted by Northwestern-St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Storm compete in the Macalester Triangular the following Saturday, Sept. 12.
Simpson is back inside Cowles Fieldhouse on Sept. 16 for the first American Rivers Conference showdown of the fall when Nebraska Wesleyan visits. After the league opener, the Storm hit the road for the Central/Grinnell Invitational from Sept. 18-19.
A weekday contest at Luther on Sept. 22 resumes A-R-C competition ahead of the Millikin Five State Classic from Sept. 25-26 in Decatur, Illinois. Simpson closes out the month when Central comes to town on Sept. 30. The Dutch prevailed in a 3-2 thriller last fall.
The month of October starts with the Wheaton Triangular on Friday, Oct. 2, and six-straight matches follow. The Storm host Dubuque on Oct. 9 before Loras enters Cowles Fieldhouse the following day. A game at Cornell breaks up conference play just ahead of Simpson traveling to Wartburg, Coe and Buena Vista to end A-R-C competition.
The Storm cap off the regular season with the Augustana Pumpkin Bash on Oct. 31. The A-R-C Tournament begins on Nov. 3 that showcases the top six teams from the regular season.
Simpson finished 8-19 last fall after starting the campaign with a 4-2 record.
2020 Simpson Volleyball Schedule |
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| Date | Opponent | Location | 2019 Record |
| 9/1 | Grinnell | Cowles Fieldhouse | 26-4, 7-2 MIDWEST |
| 9/4 | Pacific (Kathryne Pals Legacy Invite) | St. Paul, Minn. | 17-9, 10-6 NWC |
| 9/5 | St. Norbert (Kathryne Pals Legacy Invite) | St. Paul, Minn. | 24-9, 8-1 MIDWEST |
| Concordia-Moorhead (Kathryne Pals Legacy Invite) | St. Paul, Minn. | 7-19, 4-7 MIAC | |
| 9/12 | Bethany Lutheran (Macalester Triangular) | St. Paul, Minn. | 11-17, 4-4 UMAC |
| Macalester (Macalester Triangular) | St. Paul, Minn. | 4-21, 0-11 MIAC | |
| 9/16 | Nebraska Wesleyan* | Cowles Fieldhouse | 20-8, 5-3 A-R-C |
| 9/18 | Illinois College (Central/Grinnell Invite) | Pella, Iowa | 21-8, 7-2 MIDWEST |
| Dallas (Central/Grinnell Invite) | Pella, Iowa | 17-19, 9-9 SCAC | |
| 9/19 | Bethany Lutheran (Central/Grinnell Invite) | Grinnell, Iowa | 11-17, 4-4 UMAC |
| 9/22 | at Luther* | Decorah, Iowa | 7-21, 2-6 A-R-C |
| 9/25 | Blackburn (Millikin 5 State Classic) | Decatur, Ill. | 9-17, 8-10 SLIAC |
| 9/26 | Webster (Millikin 5 State Classic) | Decatur, Ill. | 17-12, 14-4 SLIAC |
| Westminster (Millikin 5 State Classic) | Decatur, Ill. | 19-9, 15-3 SLIAC | |
| 9/30 | Central* | Cowles Fieldhouse | 17-13, 2-6 A-R-C |
| 10/2 | Dominican (Wheaton Triangular) | Wheaton, Ill. | 23-7, 9-3 NACC |
| Wheaton (Wheaton Triangular) | Wheaton, Ill. | 17-13, 3-5 CCIW | |
| 10/9 | Dubuque* | Cowles Fieldhouse | 22-11, 5-3 A-R-C |
| 10/10 | Loras* | Cowles Fieldhouse | 19-9, 6-2 A-R-C |
| 10/12 | at Cornell | Mount Vernon, Iowa | 17-11, 8-1 MIDWEST |
| 10/23 | at Wartburg* | Waverly, Iowa | 24-8, 8-0 A-R-C |
| 10/24 | at Coe* | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | 15-18, 5-3 A-R-C |
| 10/27 | at Buena Vista* | Storm Lake, Iowa | 11-18, 3-5 A-R-C |
| 10/31 | Augustana (Augustana Pumpkin Bash) | Rock Island, Ill. | 13-9, 4-4 CCIW |
| Illinois College (Augustana Pumpkin Bash) | Rock Island, Ill. | 21-8, 7-2 MIDWEST | |
| 11/3-7 | A-R-C Tournament | TBD | |
| *American Rivers Conference Match | |||
