Storm close nonconference schedule in Illinois

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Storm played their last two nonconference games this weekend against Albion and tournament-host Illinois Wesleyan. Simpson came up short in both matches, however multiple players on the team recorded season and career bests in multiple differing categories.

In their match against RV Illinois Wesleyan, the team fell in three sets. Jada Schmidt led the team in kills with 10. Morgan DenBeste led the team in assists in the match with 19, and Audrey Behrens led the team in digs with 13. Lauren Roman added a pair of aces to the match as well.

Morgan DenBeste's 19 assist and 10 dig performance led her to another double-double, one of several that she has had this season.

In the afternoon match against Albion, Jada Schmidt led the team in kills again with an outstanding 17-kill performance. Lauren Dockendorff took the reins in the assists category, putting up 22 for the team. Libero Ella Meyer put forth 17 digs to lead the team in that statistic. Dockendorff additionally added five aces.

HOW IT HAPPENED (ILL-WESLEYAN)

• Set one began with back-to-back points for Ill. Wesleyan, but a kill by Peyton Mitchell brought the team back within striking distance. IWU went on a short run early in the set, but a Jada Schmidt kill cut the run. At a tie of 11-11, Morgan DenBeste put an ace down on the court. IWU went on a large run in the mid-set, but the Storm fought back to a score of being down by only one point. A kill by Jada Schmidt brought the set close, but IWU won set one 25-23.
• Jada Schmidt scored the first point of set two for the Storm with a kill, assisted by Morgan DenBeste. After a few back-and-forth ties, IWU went on a 5-0 spree, but Peyton Mitchell cut off the run. A pair of kills by Jada Schmidt brought the team back within four points, but IWU went on another late set run. Courtney Paxton cut off the run with a kill, and Emily Williams followed with one of her own right after. IWU won set two 25-16.
• The Storm scored the first point of the third set on an IWU attacking error. A pair of kills by Jada Schmidt early in the match brought the score to 7-7, and an ace by Lauren Roman brought the score to 8-8. The game remained close until IWU went on an 11-0 run through the mid-set. Lauren Roman put forth two more aces nearing the end of the third set, but the team was in too much of a deficit. The Storm fell in set three 25-16.

GAME ONE STANDOUTS

• Jada Schmidt: 10 kills, 3 digs
• Morgan DenBeste: 19 assists, 10 digs
• Audrey Behrens: 13 digs
• Peyton Mitchell: 5 kills, 3 blocks

HOW IT HAPPENED (ALBION)

• The Storm opened set one quickly with kills by Jada Schmidt and Emily Williams to take an early lead. An ace by Audrey Behrens grew the lead for the Storm early in the match. A service ace by Ella Meyer followed by three kills in a row for Jada Schmidt resulted in Simpson being up by seven points in the middle of the set. Lauren Dockendorff had two back-to-back service aces to hold their seven point lead late in the set. The Storm won set one 25-22.
• The second set opened with the Storm down 6-2, but a pair of kills by Emily Williams and a kill by Emmy Seiler began to turn the set around. Albion went on a 4-0 run mid-set and the Storm fell to a nine-point deficit. Despite three aces from Lauren Dockendorff as part of a 6-0 run, the Storm fell in set two 25-17.
• The first two points of set three went to the Storm on kills by Emily Williams and Jada Schmidt. Albion attempted a run early in the set, but three kills by Jada Schmidt and an ace by Ella Meyer grew Simpson's lead to 7-3 early on. The Storm fell to a run shortly after, but it was cut by a Schmidt service ace. Albion went on another large run mid-set, and despite efforts from Peyton Mitchell and Jada Schmidt, the team fell in set three 25-17.
• Simpson opened set four with a 4-0 run, marked by back-to-back service aces from Morgan DenBeste. The Storm held their lead until an early run from Albion brought the score to 9-9. Simpson pulled ahead again with a 5-0 run, marked by kills from Jada Schmidt and Emmy Seiler. The Storm couldn't hold on long enough, and they fell to Albion 25-22.

GAME TWO STANDOUTS

• Jada Schmidt: 17 kills, 1 ace
• Emily Williams: 10 kills, 12 digs
• Lauren Dockendorff: 22 assists, 9 digs, 5 aces
• Ella Meyer: 17 digs, 3 aces, 3 assists

NOTES

• Lauren Dockendorff hit the mark for two career-highs in the match against Albion (22 assists and five aces).
• Jada Schmidt's 17 kills in the match against Albion is her season-high and just three kills shy from her career-best.
• Ella Meyer's three aces in the match against Albion is a career-high.
• The team's 13 aces against Albion is their most since opening weekend when they had 15 against St. Scholastica

UP NEXT
The Storm return home for more conference action next weekend. They will take on Coe on Friday night at 6 p.m. and they will face off against Wartburg at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Both matches will take place in Cowles Fieldhouse.