Simpson lands four on All-A-R-C Teams
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – After guiding Simpson through its strongest campaign in more than a decade, seniors Morgan DenBeste and Peyton Mitchell and juniors Jada Schmidt and Emily Williams have earned spots on the 2025 All-American Rivers Conference teams.
DenBeste and Schmidt were selected to the first team, while Mitchell and Williams received honorable mention accolades.
Simpson concluded the year with a 19-8 overall record, the most wins since 2009 and the highest win percentage since 2006. The Storm achieved their highest regular season conference finish since 2010, secured their highest tournament seeding since 2009, and advanced to the conference semifinals for just the second time in the last 15 seasons.
Simpson's four honorees are the most the program has had since five were recognized in 2009. The Storm also earned five player of the week honors from the A-R-C this season, the most for the program since 2009.
Morgan DenBeste, first team
- Senior setter from Ankeny, Iowa
- Ranked third in the conference with 7.13 assists per set during league play
- Registered six triple-doubles in September alone, the second-most in all of NCAA Division III this season
- Did a little bit of everything all year long, finishing with 606 assists, 236 digs, 174 kills, 39 aces, and 34 blocks, all career bests
- Named A-R-C Female Athlete of the Week and Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 22
Jada Schmidt, first team
- Junior middle blocker from Ankeny, Iowa
- Ranked eighth in the conference in overall kills per set (2.69) and points per set (3.23)
- Posted 2.47 kills per set in conference play, finishing in the league's top 15
- Logged 16 matches with double-digit kills
- Recorded five double-doubles, including four against conference opponents
- Finished the year with 288 kills, 175 digs, 58 blocks, 27 assists, and 22 aces, all career bests
- Named A-R-C Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 29
Peyton Mitchell, honorable mention
- Senior middle blocker from Ankeny, Iowa
- Earns her second career honorable mention nod and first since 2023
- Finished second in the A-R-C in total blocks (100) and blocks per set (0.95)
- Ranked second in league play with 33 blocks
- Posted the fourth-highest hitting percentage in the conference (.299)
- Recorded 13 matches with 10+ kills and reached four or more blocks seven times
- Finished the year with 239 kills, 100 blocks, 42 digs, 35 aces, and 12 assists
- Named A-R-C Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 22
Emily Williams, honorable mention
- Junior outside hitter from Malvern, Iowa
- Earns all-conference recognition for third straight year (2023 first team, 2024 honorable mention)
- Knocked down 3.19 kills per set in conference play to rank fifth in the league
- Ranked ninth in the conference in overall kills per set (2.67)
- Tallied 12 double-digit kill matches and three double-doubles on the season
- Finished the year with 254 kills, 138 digs, 40 blocks, 18 aces, and 10 assists
- Named A-R-C Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 3
