REDDING, Calif. - The women's volleyball team took on UC Merced tonight as they honored its seniors.
Before the game Simpson honors its six seniors; Sierra Murphy, Lynette McKenzie, Katie Graham, Mallory Swenson, Madison Kammuller, and Dani Rydjord.
But the Bobcats played spoiler as they took down the Red Hawks in four sets.
After falling behind, 2-0 the Red Hawks tied the game at three after back-to-back kills by senior Katie Graham.
The first set thriller saw five different lead changes as no more than four points ever separated the two teams.
The Red Hawks scored two straight points to take the 18-15 lead on a kill by Tiara Manns.
Simpson held the 20-18 lead, but Merced scored six straight points to take the 24-20 advantage.
The Red Hawks fought back as they scored three unanswered points which included a kill by Graham to force a Bobcats timeout.
But the Bobcats prevailed and took the first set thriller 25-23 to take the match lead.
Back-to-back kills by Manns got Simpson on the board and tied the game at two.
But the Bobcats took the commanding 16-7 lead as they went on a 14-5 run.
Simpson looked to climb back in as they scored four straight points on an ace by Madison Kammuller and a kill by Mallory Swenson.
Facing a seven-point deficit the Red Hawks went on a 6-2 run to pull within three, 21-18
Graham, Manns, and Maiah Napoleon each notched a kill as Kiahla Granger picked up an ace.
However, the Bobcats held off the Red Hawks late rally as they took the second set 25-21 to take the 2-0 match lead.
The Red Hawks refused to get shutout as they answered back in set three.
Facing a one-point deficit the Red Hawks scored four straight points to take the 21-18 lead on two aces by Abigail Shackelford and kills by Napoleon and Swenson.
The Bobcats tied the game at 22 but the Red Hawks reeled off three straight points to take the third set, 25-22.
UC Merced took the commanding 22-9 lead before Simpson fought back and pulled within four after going on an 11-2 run.
Simpson took advantage of miscues from the Bobcats while Kare Ann Oshiro notched a kill and Napoleon posted two aces.
But the Bobcats closed out the match victory with a 25-20 set four victory.
Tiara Manns had a team-high 12 kills while Mallory Swenson followed close behind with 10 kills to go along with a stellar .444 hitting percentage.
Mackenzie Tataryn had a team-high 15 assists to go along with four digs.
Looking forward, Simpson looks to take on La Sierra University in the Cal Pac semifinal game on Friday at 2:30 pm.
This is going to be the fourth time this season that the Red Hawks and Golden Eagles have clashed. Simpson won the season series as a five-set loss being its only blemish against La Sierra.
