Storm win season opener against Saint Mary’s, fall to Wis.-Platteville

GRINNELL, IOWA – The Simpson College women's volleyball team picked up its first win of the season against non-conference opponent St. Mary's (Minn.). The Storm were led by freshman Emmy Seiler's 13 kills and 3 blocks over a two game span in her collegiate debut.

The team fought hard in the second game of the day, coming up short against Wis.-Platteville, losing in three sets.

GAME ONE SUMMARY

• The Storm came out behind Saint Mary's, and they remained there until midway through the first set. With an ace from Peyton Mitchell, the Storm flipped the game at the halfway mark to take the first set in extra points, finishing at 26-24.
• Simpson used an early 5-0 run to take an 11-5 lead in the second set. Kills from Morgan DenBeste and Peyton Mitchell sealed the set at 25-11.
• Saint Mary's came out strong in set three with an 8-0 run. Emmy Seiler cut off the run with a kill. The deficit was too great to come back from and the Storm dropped set three 25-13.
• The Storm had a response in the fourth set, starting with a 6-0 run. Simpson used this lead to its advantage and finished out the fourth set, and the match, with a 25-10 win.

GAME TWO SUMMARY

• The Storm came out neck and neck with the Pioneers of Wis.-Platteville, starting with an early score of 12-11. UWP went on a 7-0 run and took the first set 25-16.
• The Pioneers took an early 10-6 lead in set two. The Storm brought the score back within one to trail UWP 21-22 late in the set with a kill from Emmy Seiler. Simpson dropped the second set 21-25.
• The Storm went back and forth in the third set against the Pioneers, tying the set multiple times. A kill by Jada Schmidt put the Storm ahead 22-20 late in the third set, but Wis.-Platteville closed the set with a 5-0 run to win the match with a 25-22 set three score.

LEADERS FOR THE STORM

• Emmy Seiler - 13 kills, 3 blocks
• Jada Schmidt - 8 kills, 8 digs, 4 blocks, 1 ace
• Morgan DenBeste - 20 assists, 17 digs, 5 aces
• Ella Meyer - 26 digs, 5 assists
• Peyton Mitchell - 3 aces, 3 blocks
• Courtney Paxton - 8 kills

NOTES

• The Storm are now 4-1 in season openers under head coach KK Palea.
• The Storm totaled 10 blocks in their first two games and 16 aces.

UP NEXT
The Storm return to play tomorrow morning for the second half of the Central/Grinnell Tournament. They take on Rose-Hulman at 10 a.m. and St. Scholastica at noon to wrap up their opening weekend.