DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque's #1 seeded volleyball team made quick work of the #4 seeded Simpson College Storm in three sets in the 2023 American Rivers Conference tournament semifinals. The Spartans captured set one by a 25-19 score, won set two 25-19, and captured the match with a 25-17 set three score.

The stage is set for the 2023 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Volleyball Tournament final round. The championship match will take place inside Stoltz Sports Center in Dubuque, Iowa. The University of Dubuque will host the Coe College Kohawks. The winner will earn the A-R-C automatic qualifying berth to the 2023 NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament. 
 
No. 1-seed University of Dubuque Spartans (22-8 overall, 8-0 A-R-C) advances to the championship match after defeating No. 4-seed Simpson College Storm (10-21 overall, 4-4 A-R-C) in 3-0 sweep (25-19, 25-19, 25-17). Emma Powell totaled seven kills and five digs. Ashlee Adler recorded 11 digs and six kills to assist in leading the Spartans to the conference title match. 
 
The Spartans have found their way back to the conference championship title match for the first time since the 2019 season. Dubuque's first conference tournament title was in the first edition in 1982, again in 1995, and more recently in 2018 and 2019 when they went back-to-back. A win for the Spartans would send them to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2019, and for the third time under the direction of head coach April Elsbernd. 
 
The No. 3-seed Coe College Kohawks (20-11 overall, 6-2 A-R-C) are headed to the championship match for the third straight season after defeating the No. 2-seed Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves (21-8 overall, 7-1 A-R-C). Coe took the road trip to Lincoln, Nebraska and came out to a hot start taking the first two sets over the P-Wolves, to pick up the victory in four sets (25-15, 27-25, 23-25, 27-25). Madi Parson recorded 18 digs, 15 kills, and two aces in the victory to lead the way for the Kohawks. Grace Lueken additionally picked up 14 digs, 10 kills, and 3.5 blocks.
 
The two squads met during the regular season back on October 11th in Dubuque, Iowa, where the Spartans picked up the 3-1 (16-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-18). Powell led the Spartans with 15 kills and five aces on the night. On the other side of the net, Lueken recorded 14 kills and two aces, while Parson added 27 digs and two aces. 

Start time for Saturday's Veterans Day tournament championship will be announced on Friday.