2015 Volleyball Roster
Sep 12 (Fri)
6 PM
Gabby Simpson
- Position:
- Setter
- Height:
- 6-3
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Colorado Springs
- High School:
- Doherty
As a Junior in 2016
Simpson missed the first three matches to start the season, but returned to the line-up the next weekend to help the Buffs upset No. 13 Penn State (3-2) and No. 17 Illinois (3-2). She recorded her first of 16 double-doubles in the first match against the Nittany Lions, hammering 10 kills while handing out 25 assists. She also had eight digs and two blocks. The following night, Simpson handed out a season-best 30 assists (and had eight digs and eight kills) against the Illini. Simpson was one of the Buffs most consistent players, offensively and defensively. She recorded a CU record seven triple-doubles in the season, breaking the previous record of six, and also set the record for the most consecutive triple-doubles with four, surpassing the former record of two. Her four straight triple-doubles came at the start of the Pac-12 schedule and the one against Arizona (9/25) had CU’s first ever 20-20 kills-assists double-double with 22 kills and 21 assists. She also had 19 digs and six blocks in the win over the Wildcats. Her seven season triple-doubles tied for fourth in the NCAA and led the Pac-12 Conference. Simpson was forced to miss the final five matches of the season due to injury. She started in all of the 22 matches she played and saw time in 87 sets where she recorded 215 kills (hitting .215), 477 assists, 10 aces, 203 digs and 56 blocks for 254.5 points. Simpson earned All-Pac-12 and AVCA All-Pacific South Region honorable mention honors.
As a Sophomore in 2015
Simpson started in all 32 matches for the Buffs and played in 123 of 124 sets. The Buffs began the season running a 6-2 offense, with Simpson setting and hitting, but just a couple of weeks in to the non-conference schedule, CU switched to a 5-1, moving Simpson to the right side. The move worked well for Simpson as she became one of CU’s biggest offensive threats during the season, tallying 419 kills and 488.0 points, second on the team. She was also 10th in the Pac-12 Conference in kills (3.41 kps) and ninth in points (3.97 pps). In conference only matches, Simpson was just as impressive, ranking ninth in kills (3.53) and tenth in points (4.01). She was named to the Rice Adidas Invitational All-Tournament team (9/11-12) after notching 35 kills in three matches (11 sets). The following weekend, Simpson was named the Omni Invitational MVP after guiding CU to a 4-0 record. She picked up 66 kills in four matches, averaging 4.61 kills per set, and was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week. In the first match of the weekend, she hammered a then-career-high 21 kills against Montana State (9/18) and hit .372. She also hit .370 later that day against Weber State with 16 kills. Against then-top-ranked USC, Simpson again tallied 21 kills and hit .245 as CU just barely lost a five-set match to the Trojans. Simpson recorded her second Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honor after collecting a career-best 25 kills and .405 hitting efficiency in CU’s first-ever win against Stanford (10/18). During the postseason, Simpson was selected to the All-Pac-12 honorable mention team. She finished the year with 419 kills, 100 assists, 26 aces, 210 digs and 83 blocks.
As a Freshman in 2014
Simpson was one of CU’s most versatile athletes, playing both right side and setter positions. She started in 33 of 34 matches and saw action in 131 of 135 sets. Simpson recorded 184 kills, which was fourth on the team, and also handed out 1,691 assists, the second best on the team. She ranked third for the Buffs with 20 aces and 231 digs. Simpson recorded CU’s first triple-double since 2002 against Washington State (11/16) with 10 kills, 10 assists and 15 digs, a career best. She debuted against Northwestern (8/29) and recorded a career best 14 kills and five aces for 19.0 points. Simpson also posted a career high six blocks against Pittsburgh (9/6). In the win against Butler, she handed out 48 assists. Simpson had 13 matches with 20 or more assists. She earned co-Most Improved honors at the team’s postseason banquet and was a finalist for CU’s Female Freshman of the Year award. Simpson was also named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention team.
High School
As a senior, Simpson picked up numerous honors. She was named to the AVCA’s Under Armour All-America Second Team and earned a spot on Volleyball Magazine’s Fab-50 list. Prepvolleyball.com named her to its Senior Aces (at No. 15) as well as to its All-America team. She helped Doherty to a seventh-place finish at the Colorado State High School Championships with the Spartans finishing the season 21-6. She was named to the All-State 5A, All-Area 5A/4A and All-Colorado Springs Metro League first teams. During the year, she was awarded recognition on the Cherry Creek and Cheyenne Mountain Volleyball All-Tournament teams. She recorded 711 assists, 277 kills, 187 digs, 72 blocks and 37 aces in 95 sets.
Her junior year she helped guide the Spartans to the state championship with a perfect 29-0 record. Once again, she was named to the All-Area 5A/4A and All-Colorado Springs Metro League first teams and to the Cherry Creek and Cheyenne Mountain Volleyball All-Tournament teams. She also collected Prepvolleyball.com’s Top 50 Junior Recruits recognition and was named to the AVCA Phenom List. In 89 sets, she recorded 476 assists, 197 kills, 195 digs, 60 blocks and 34 aces.
As a sophomore, she was named Prepvolleyball.com’s Sophomore 79 highest honorable mention, as well as to the All-Area 5A/4A and All-Colorado Springs Metro League second teams. DHS finished the season 17-9. In addition, she was named Prepvolleyball.com’s Frosh 59 honorable mention as a freshman. That season, the team finished the year 22-8 and was third at the state championship.
Simpson has also been a member of the Colorado Juniors Volleyball Club the past six years. She was named a Rocky Mountain Region All-Star in 2013 when she was the MVP as her team won the 2013 Puerto Rico U20 National Championship. The team also placed fifth at USA Volleyball Junior Nationals where she was named to the all-tournament team. Simpson has also been involved with USA Volleyball as a member of the 2012 and 2013 Youth National Training Team.
An excellent student, Simpson has excelled in the classroom and earned academic all-state honors her freshman through senior years. She was a member of the Doherty Honor Roll and National Honor Society.
Also recruited by San Diego, Colorado State, Arizona State, UCLA. Simpson decided on CU because she loves it here and is not far from her family, as well as the chance get to play with her older sisters.
Personal
Gabrielle Simpson was born on Oct. 13, 1996 in Colorado Springs, Colo. She is the daughter of Rick and Serena Simpson. Her dad played basketball at Louisiana Tech while her mom played basketball at UMKC. She has two older sisters, Taylor, an All-American for the Buffs, and Cierra, a senior on the CU volleyball team, and one younger sister, Riley. She enjoys writing, reading and hanging out with friends.
Academics
Simpson is a strategic communication major with an emphasis in advertising. She has a GPA greater than 3.2 and was named to the Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention team in 2015 and 16.
