The Loras College volleyball team dropped their first game of the Iowa Conference schedule since October of 2007 on Tuesday to Simpson College, 3-1 in the AWC. The teams had developed somewhat into rivals late last season, with key matchups for the 2008 regular season and IIAC Tournament titles in November.

On Tuesday, Simpson took the match in four sets, winning the final three after the Duhawks claimed a slim 26-24 victory in the first. Julianne Lord led the Duhawks with 15 kills on the night. Some of Lord's kills stopped Simpson rallies, while others finished long back-and-forth exchanges. Lord was followed in the kills slot by Brittney Westermeyer, who turned in seven. Julie Rogers posted 26 assists in her first home game as the Duhawks' setter.

In the end, service errors, untimely mistakes on the attack, and a persistent Simpson offense doomed the Duhawks, who fell to 1-1 in the league. Three Simpson players tallied double-digit kills, including Amy Schuster and Whitney Oviatt (12 apeice), and Lara Gillespie's team high 15.

The Duhawks won't play again until Tuesday the 22^nd back in the AWC. Loras will take on Wartburg, who won another key match in the league on Tuesday over Central College. The Duhawks are now 4-6 overall.