FULLERTON, Calif. - The men's volleyball team dropped its first game of the SoCal road trip to the #1 team in the nation, The Masters University. 

Simpson battled and went head-to-head with the nation's top team but fell in straight sets to the Mustangs. 

Simpson drew first blood with a Flavio Mercado kill to grab the early lead. 

However, the Red Hawks battled and stayed within striking distance the entire first set. 

A kill by Jen-Paul James and Flavio Mercado pulled Simpson within two points on two different occasions late in the first set. 

However, the Mustangs sealed the 25-20 first-set victory to grab the 1-0 match lead. 

The Mustangs dominated the second set as they won convincingly 25-13. 

But the Red Hawks did not go quietly as they played a tough third set. 

Back-to-back kills by Jacob Shelton early in the third set helped Simpson grab the early lead. 

An Akira Davies kill mid-way through the third set helped pull Simpson within two points. 

However, the Mustangs scored four unanswered points to create enough breathing room to take the third set 25-19 and the match. 

Jacob Shelton had a solid game in the net as he recorded four kills and three total blocks to go along with a .500 hitting percentage for the game. 

Jayden Minarcik had another good game as he recorded 21 assists on the night.

Simpson continues its SoCal road trip as they take on St. Katherine tomorrow at 6 PM.