Loyola Marymount’s beach volleyball team made the addition of Cierra Simpson, a grad transfer from Colorado, for the 2018 season. After playing four years indoors at the University of Colorado, Simpson will have one final go around with the Lions come the upcoming beach season.
In those four seasons at Colorado, Simpson collected more career digs (1,840) than any other Buffaloes player in school history by a 300 dig distance over second place. The team captain both years as an upperclasswoman, Simpson also holds Colorado’s record for sets played (493) and aces (91) during the rally scoring era.
“Cierra is a great addition to our 2017-2018 class,” Loyola Marymount beach head coach John Mayer said in the team’s release of the addition. “She’s been a rock in serve-receive for Colorado in the Pac-12 conference for the past four years. Her ability to pass the ball at a high level and to have elite ball control is a skill that is invaluable on the beach. She’s a tall libero at 6’0 and a very good jumper and athlete. I know she’s looking forward to taking some swings as she makes the transition to the beach game. Cierra is a dynamic, fun person who will bring a ton of great character to our team.”
Although Simpson was a libero in her previous stop, she has solid height for the sand at 6’0″. She had experience in her prep days at Doherty High School in attack and at the net as well, when she added 182 kills and 40 blocks on a team that won the state championship in 2012.
Loyola Marymount graduated just one player from its 2017 squad, who also was a grad transfer last season. Of the other 16 players on the 2017 team, none were seniors. The combination of plenty of returning faces and the addition of a player like Simpson keep Loyola Marymount on the rise, as they had a winning season in 2017 (15-14) after winning just 11 total matches in the two previous years.
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