DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque volleyball team lost a five set match on Saturday in their American Rivers Conference season opener by a 2-3 margin to the visiting Simpson College Storm.

UD opened the afternoon with a 25-19 win in the first set. The Storm rallied to knot the match at 1-1 after winning the second set 25-16. Simpson kept the momentum and would capture the third set by a 25-21 score. The Spartans dominated the fourth set after starting on a 13-1 run and would finish 25-15 to send the afternoon into a fifth and deciding set. The two squads would battle back and forth before the Storm edged ahead after an 9-8 score and captured the match with a 15-13 fifth set. UD trailed the whole fifth set to the visiting Storm.

The Spartans offense was led by Emma Powell who led the Spartans with 13 kills. Teammates Isabel Cleary and Darby Hawtrey would both end with 11 kills. The Spartans hit .105% as a team in the loss. Hawtrey would lead service with four aces.Mary Kate Willie led the Spartans defense with a team high 28 digs. Kaylynn Murray passed to the open attacker and would collect 23 assists.

UD is 0-1 overall and 0-1 in A-R-C play and we play at Loras on Feb. 23. at 7:30 p.m.
 

Simpson	19	25	25	15	15
Dubuque	25	16	21	25	13

Fall-to-Spring Schedule
Feb. 20 – vs. Simpson L, 2-3
Feb. 23 – at Loras
Mar. 3 – at Wartburg
Mar. 6 – vs Nebraska Wesleyan
Mar. 9 – vs Coe
Mar. 13 – at Central
Mar. 17 – vs Luther
Mar. 20 – at Buena Vista

A-R-C Preseason Poll
1. UD (6)
2. Wartburg (3)
3. Coe
4. Nebraska Wesleyan
5. Loras
6. Buena Vista
7. Central
8. Luther
9. Simpson