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Volleyball squad stays in chase for IIAC title

Date 10/8/1998 12:00 AM | Topic: Sports

The Luther volleyball team remains in the Iowa Conference championship chase at mid-season as the Norse split a pair of IIAC matches with William Penn and Simpson.

Luther was saddled with its first conference loss of the 1998 season on Sept. 29, dropping a road trip heartbreaker to the Statesmen, 15-3, 13-15, 16-14, 15-5, 11-15.

The Norse bounced back on their home floor Oct. 1, sweeping Simpson, 15-2, 15-8, 15-15. The split gave Luther an IIAC record of 3-1.

Lisa Dettman ('01) tallied 23 kills and 59 assists to lead Luther's attack in a hard fought battle with William Penn. Other statistical leaders for the Norse included Jenn Cords ('00) with 15 kills and 42 assists and Gwen Mowry ('99) with 12 kills and 33 assists.

Luther's offense had one of its best performances of the season in the losing cause. As a team, the Norse hammered down 67 kills and made 227 assists in the five-game match.

Norse sweep Simpson

Luther hitters continued the offensive show against the Simpson, quieting the Storm in three one-sided games.

The Norse offense was ignited by the outstanding performances of hitters Cords (11 kills) and Dettman (10 kills). Assist leaders were Anne Branstad ('00) with 18 and Mowry with 17.

Coach Ellen Drewes-Stoen said Luther's play against Simpson, after a tough loss to William Penn earlier in the week, displays the never-say-die character of the Norse team.

Non-conference tourney

The Norse dropped two non-conference matches at the Clarke College Tournament in Dubuque, Oct. 2-3, giving the Norse an overall record of 12-6 in the 1998 season.

Luther opened the invitational tournament with a loss to Monmouth College, 12-15, 11-15, 10-15. In the second round, the Norse fell to eventual tournament champion St. Norbert, 10-15, 11-15, 15-9, 4-15.

Norse players Branstad and Kathie Kempf ('99) were named to the all-tournament team.

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Jenny Welp
Chips Staff Writer

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