Storm swept by Prairie Wolves in league opener

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Simpson College volleyball team couldn't contain Nebraska Wesleyan in Wednesday's American Rivers Conference opener, falling 3-0.

The Prairie Wolves (7-3, 1-0 A-R-C) hit .260 on the night and earned the sweep with set scores of 25-17, 25-15 and 25-23.

A couple of early 5-0 runs propelled the hosts to a 13-8 advantage in the first. Marissa Salber's kill pulled the Storm (4-5, 0-1 A-R-C) within five, 19-14, but Nebraska Wesleyan quickly stretched it's lead back to eight and cruised to a set one win from there.

An early deficit plagued the Storm again in the second set as they got behind 10-3 and couldn't recover. Outside hitter Addie Thomas knocked down seven kills and the Prairie Wolves tallied four of their eight blocks in the frame.

Things turned around for the visitors in the third with the Storm maintaining the advantage for most of the way. Blayne Koster and Autumn Finch ignited the offense early and Simpson took its largest lead, 13-8, on Koster's sixth kill of the set following impressive defensive play by Iman Ghalibaf that kept the rally alive. The Prairie Wolves rallied to tie the match at 20-20 and rattled off four straight points to earn the sweep after Simpson had taken a 23-21 lead.

Koster and Finch finished with eight and seven kills, respectively, to lead the Storm offensively in the league opener. Jessica Jacobs (6) and Camryn McKay (5) combined for 11, and Salber and Peyton Mitchell chipped in four apiece.

Ghalibaf tallied 15 digs, while Salber and Kaylee McAninch added seven each.

Up Next
Simpson heads to La Crosse, Wis. to compete in its third nonconference tournament of the year. The Storm will face Wis.-River Falls and Wis.-La Crosse on Friday and Bethany Lutheran and Ripon on Saturday.