MERCED, Calif. - The women's volleyball team fell to Cal Pac rival University of California Merced, 3-2 in five sets. 

Simpson started slowly as the Bobcats grabbed a 2-0 lead as they took sets one and two by the scores of 25-16 and 25-22. 

But the Red Hawks would not go down without a fight as they ignited the comeback with a set three victory by the score of 25-21. 

Simpson held the momentum as they took set four. A key 8-0 Red Hawk's run helped fuel the Simpson comeback as they took the set by the score of 25-17. 

Set five was a true nail bitter as Simpson grabbed an early 5-0 lead. But Merced battled back to even the score at 11. 

Simpson came a point away from completing the reverse sweep but a key Bobcat kill extended the match. Merced went on to take set five by the score of 17-15 as they closed out the game. 

The Red Hawks had a big play by multiple players. 

Mallory Swenson led the way with a team-high 16 kills, five total blocks, and nine digs to go along with a .359 hitting percentage. 

Junior Julia Zamfir had a big game in the net as she recorded nine kills and a team-high seven total blocks. 

Tiana Nihipali and Tiara Manns followed close behind in the kills department as Nihipali registered 13 kills and 11 kills for manns. 

Senior setter Kayla Somontan played a key role for her hitters as she recorded 34 assists and a team-leading 19 digs. 

The Red Hawks will return home tomorrow to take on Pacific Union College at 9 PM.