REDDING, Calif. - The men's volleyball team opened up its final two-game homestand of the year against Saint Katherine tonight at the James M. Grant Center. 

The Red Hawks are coming off a straight-set victory over Pacific Union to stay in the playoff race. But a win against the Firebirds could go a long way as they are chasing the fourth-place Firebirds team in the Cal Pac standings for the final playoff spot. 

USK jumped out to the early 3-0 lead before an Akira Davies kill put Simpson on the board. 

The Red Hawks reeled off four unanswered points by Firebird miscues and a Travis Kelly kill to pull within two points and make it a 12-10 game. 

However, a 9-3 USK run helped them grab a commanding 21-15 lead in the first set. 

The Firebirds took the first set 25-17 victory on a Simpson service error to grab the 1-0 match lead. 

Simpson bounced back in set two and came out firing as they grabbed the 12-3 lead on kills by Flavio Mercado, Jean-Paul James, Travis Kelly, and Akira Davies.



Simpson dominated the second set as an Akira Davies kill ended the 25-16 second set victory for Simpson as they evened the match score 1-1. 

The Red Hawks continued its momentum in set three as they grabbed the early 5-2 lead on kills by Kelly and Mercado. 

The Firebirds held control as they jumped out to a 16-9 lead on a 9-1 run midway through the third set. 

Simpson roared back late as they reeled off four straight points to pull within two points, 22-20 late in the third set. 

But USK held off the Red Hawks late rally to take set three 25-22 to take the 2-1 match advantage. 

Down 2-1, the Red Hawks fought and scratched in the fourth set to stay within striking distance of the Firebirds. 

Facing a 15-10 deficit the Red Hawks scored eight straight points on USK miscues, an ace by Adonijah James Raffaelli, and a kill by Jacob Shelton to grab the 18-15 lead. 

A kill by Mercado ended the 25-21 fourth-set victory to push the game to a deciding fifth set. 

Simpson opened the fifth set with an ace by David Raffaelli to grab the early lead. 



Point after point, the Red Hawks and Firebirds exchanged points in a back-and-forth thrilling fifth set. 

USK reached the eight-point mark first as both teams flipped sides. 

But a huge kill by Kelly pulled Simpson within one as they trailed 10-9. 

However, the Firebirds prevailed and held off Simpson as they went on a 5-2 run to take the 15-11 fifth set and match victory.
 

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— Simpson Red Hawks (@SimpsonRedHawks) March 23, 2024
 

Flavio Mercado led the Simpson attackers with 11 kills and two total blocks. 

Travis Kelly had another solid game in the front row as he registered a team-high five solo blocks and six total blocks. 

David Raffaelli had another nice game as he notched 29 assists on the night to go along with nine digs. 

Simpson looks to finish its homestand strong as they take on Westcliff University on Sunday at 6 PM on the team's senior night.