Storm split on day two of Wisconsin Blast

WHITEWATER, Wis. - Simpson College volleyball wrapped up its opening weekend with a day-two split at the Wisconsin Blast. The Storm began the afternoon with a 3-1 victory over Ripon but stumbled against No. 16 Wisconsin-Whitewater, falling 3-0.

In the first match of the day, the Storm posted their third 3-1 win in a row. The two teams traded sets one and two with Simpson winning the first 25-20 and Ripon taking the second 25-19. The Storm won a tight battle in set three, 25-22, much thanks to a trio of late kills by Josie O'Brien and closed out the match with a 25-13 win in the following frame. Simpson never trailed in the final set and had its best offensive output of the day with 10 kills.

Jumping right into their next match with the 16th-ranked team in the country, the Storm struggled early and dropped the first set 25-8. Simpson played the Warhawks closer in the next two frames but the hosts rattled off eight straight points at the end of set two (25-15) and pulled away late again in set three (25-20) after the Storm had built a 17-14 lead.

Jessica Jacobs filled her stat line with 21 kills, seven aces, seven digs and three blocks, while Marissa Salber recorded 33 assists, 11 digs, three kills and two aces throughout the day. O'Brien finished with eight kills and Iman Ghalibaf registered 23 digs. Aaliyah Johnson had a career-high four blocks against Ripon, finishing the weekend with eight denials.

Simpson is back in action next weekend in Houston, Texas for a four-game slate. The Storm will clash with St. Thomas, Schreiner, and Mary Hardin-Baylor while south, facing the mountaineers of Schreiner once each day.