Cierra Simpson

UCF

Oct 2 (Thu)

7 PM

Photo by: Mark Waldron

Photo by: Larry Lawson

Position:
Defensive Specialist/Libero
Height:
6-0
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Colorado Springs, Colo.
High School:
Doherty

As a Senior in 2016
Simpson served her final season as a co-captain and ended her career on a great note. She became CU’s all-time career digs leader with 1,840, surpassing the former record by 300 (1,540). Simpson also set CU’s record for sets played with 493 and is the rally scoring era career services aces leader at 91. During the season, she recorded 444 digs, playing in all 121 sets to average 3.67 digs per set, the 10th best mark in the league. In conference-only matches, Simpson averaged 3.91 digs per set (321 total), which was seventh. She recorded 20 or more kills in six matches during the campaign, which included a season-high 27 in a four-set victory against No. 12 UCLA (10/2). She also tallied 24 digs as the Buffs upset No. 13 Penn State (9/3) in five sets. Simpson earned a spot on the Omni Invitational All-Tournament team after helping CU to a 3-0 weekend that included the Buffs first win (3-1) over Colorado State (9/17) since 2002. In that match, she recorded 10 digs as well as six assists and an ace. Simpson just missed her second career double-double the following week when CU defeated Arizona (9/25), handing out nine assists and 17 digs. Over the course of CU’s 30 matches, Simpson recorded 111 assists, 444 digs, 15 aces and two kills for 17.0 points

As a Junior in 2015
Simpson, one of three tri-captains, had another outstanding season, finishing with 505 digs, the second most in a single season by a Buff. She was the only athlete to play in all 124 sets during the season. Simpson completed the season ranked seventh in the Pac-12 with 4.07 digs per set and was fifth in conference-only matches with 4.44 digs per set. During the campaign, she became the 14th Buff to record 1,000 career digs and set the CU rally scoring career digs record, breaking the previous mark of 1,170. Simpson’s defensive presence earned her the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 5) after averaging 5.38 digs per set in CU’s wins against then-No. 22 Oregon and Oregon State, CU’s second road sweep since joining the Pac-12. Her numbers got even better the following two weeks, averaging 5.88 digs per set both weeks. Simpson recorded a career-best 31 digs in a five-set thriller against then-No. 1 USC (a narrow loss for the Buffs) and followed that up with 16 digs against then-No. 12 UCLA (a three-set loss). She equaled her career-best the following week against California and added 16 digs against then-No. 6 Stanford, a pair of four-set wins. With her two 31 digs performances, Simson became just the third Buff to have multiple 30 dig matches in a career. Simpson added 124 assists and 19 service aces during the season. At CU’s postseason banquet, she was named the team’s defensive MVP for the second straight season.

As a Sophomore in 2014
Simpson became the first Buff to record 500 digs in a single season, breaking the CU single season and sophomore record with 519. She recorded 10 or more digs in 27 matches and in 11 of those matches, she had 20 or more digs. Simpson picked up a career-high 28 digs in a five-set road victory against Arizona State (11/2). Prior to that, she had recorded 26 digs against Idaho State (9/12), which helped her earn Omni Invitational All-Tournament Team honors. Simpson was ranked 10th in the Pac-12 with 3.93 digs per set and was seventh in league-only matches (4.23 dps). She was also a reliable server for the Buffs, leading the team with 29 aces. Simpson tied the CU sophomore single match record for most aces in a match when she served up five against Pittsburgh (9/6). Simpson was a constant in the CU line-up and was the only Buff to play in all 132 sets. At the end of the season, she was honored as the team’s defensive MVP.

As a Freshman in 2013
Simpson saw action in 116 of 119 sets (all 32 matches) in her first season as a Buff. As the starting libero, Simpson led the team with 372 digs and averaged 3.21 digs per set. She made her collegiate debut against St. Mary’s (8/30) and recorded seven digs. Simpson had 21 matches with double-digit digs and two matches with 20 or more. She picked up a career-high 22 digs against Appalachian State (9/13) at Baylor Invitational to earn all-tournament team recognition. Not only was Simpson a key factor in Colorado’s defense, but was also one of the team’s toughest servers. She ranked second on the team with 28 aces and had three different matches with three aces. Simpson was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshmen honorable mention team and was also recognized by the team as one of two most improved players at the season ending banquet.

High School
Cierra Simpson was a member of the Doherty High School team that won the 2012 5A Colorado State High School Championship after winning the Colorado Spring Metro League Championship to complete its 29-0 perfect season. During the season, Simpson recorded 182 kills, 208 digs, 40 blocks and 39 aces in 86 sets and was named to the Under Armour High School All-America Watch List. DHS recorded a pair of third-place finishes at the 2009 and 2010 state championships. Simpson was named the DHS Most Valuable Player as a junior, helping to guide the Spartans to a share of the Colorado Springs Metro League Championship.

Over the course of four years with the Spartans, Simpson was a two-time first team all-area 4A/5A Colorado Springs team member, a three-time first team all-conference member and was named to the second team once. Simpson was an academic all-state first team selection and DHS honor roll member her freshman through senior years. She was also a member of the National Honor Society and earned the CU James H. Baker Scholarship.

Simpson played club volleyball for Colorado Juniors under the direction of Kevin Marquis. The team placed second at the Puerto Rico National Championship in 2013 and won the same tournament in 2012. Simpson was named to the all-tournament team after helping her team to the victory. She was also recruited by UT-San Antonio, Kansas State, Northern Colorado, Georgia Southern and DePaul but came to CU because she loved the coaching staff, campus, location and the fact that the Buffs play in one of the top conferences in the country.

Personal
Cierra Alexis Simpson was born on May 16, 1995 in Spokane, Wash. She is the daughter of Rick and Serena Simpson. Rick played basketball at Louisiana Tech and Serena played basketball at UMKC. She won the 2012 Colorado 5A State Volleyball Championship at DHS with her younger sister Gabby, who is a junior on the CU volleyball team. Simpson also has an older sister, Taylor, who was a 2014 All-American on the CU volleyball team and another younger sister, Riley. Simpson enjoys playing sports, running, reading, writing and traveling.

Academics
Simpson is an advertising major with a GPA greater than 3.2. She has been named to the Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention team three times (2014, 15 and 16).