Contact: Emily Zadny, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970

Box Score

Oct. 25, 2019 – The Loras College women's volleyball team improved to 5-1 in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play on Friday evening, taking the 3-0 sweep against the Simpson College Storm.

Simpson (8-14, 0-6 A-R-C) had a strong start to the first set, taking a 9-3 lead. Two kills from Jackie Alberto and a service ace from Kayla Kinney helped the Duhawks narrow the gap to two points but the resilient Storm steadily built the lead to 14-11. Kills from Kelly Boge and Alberto started what would spark the Duhawks' offense and force Simpson to commit multiple attacking errors, soon tying the set 17-17 and forcing Simpson to call a timeout. Out of the break, the Storm regained momentum, coming to set point at 24-23. Kinney hit the tying kill to force extra points and Simpson fired one back to tie it 25-25 but a kill from Kinney and a block from Alberto and Kendra Cave gave the Duhawks the first set win, 27-25.

Riding the momentum from the final points of the first set, Loras took an 8-3 lead in the second following three-service aces from Cave and kills from Boge and Moira Mixan. The Duhawks continued to tally points on the board, soon holding a 22-14 advantage against the Storm off a fourth service ace from Cave and Alberto hit home the winning kill to end the set 25-17.

Looking to end the match in three sets, Mixan served up her 46th ace of the season on the opening point, setting a new single-season record. Simpson tried to regain control of the set taking an 18-16 lead but back-to-back kills from Alberto tied the score and kicked off a three-point run to put Loras ahead 21-19, forcing Simpson to call a timeout. With Talia McAtee serving, the Duhawks came up with three straight kills from Cave and Boge to bring Loras to match point. McAtee closed the set in similar fashion to how it started, serving up an ace to give the Duhawks the 25-19 set victory and the match.

Alberto led the team with 13 kills and two blocks, followed by 12 kills from Boge and Cave had a season-high five service aces. Krystal Tranel led all players with 16 digs and Kinney had 14.
The Duhawks (18-7, 5-1 A-R-C) return to Lillis Court on Saturday, Oct. 26 to host Central College and celebrate Senior Day. Match time is set for 4 P.M.