LAWRENCE, Kan. - The women's volleyball squad took down Westcliff University today in the Continental Athletic Conference Semifinal game in five sets. 

The Warriors took the match lead as they took the first set convincingly, 25-14 and followed it up with a 25-21 second set victory. 

However, the Red Hawks refused to go quietly as they faced a 23-21 deficit with their season on the line. 

Three straight kills by Elizabeth Heath, Kiersti Howell, and Marian Napoleon gave Simpson the one-point advantage. 

The standard 25 points could not determine a winner as the Red Hawks muscled out the 27-25 victory on a kill by Tiara Manns. 

A kill by Heath got Simpson on the board in the fourth set as they took the 10-5 lead. 

But the Warriors responded by outscoring the Red Hawks 8-2 to take the 13-12 lead. 

Simpson created some breathing room on a 7-2 run to take the 19-15 lead. The Warriors pulled within one late in the fourth set before Simpson sealed the fourth set victory on back-to-back kills by Manns to push a fifth set. 

The Red Hawks jumped out to the early 8-2 lead as Napoleon posted three kills. 

Simpson never relinquished the lead as they capped off the reverse sweep with a huge block by Manns and Howell. 

Napoleon led the team with 18 kills as Simpson posted three other double-digit kill performances. 

Manns followed close behind with 15 kills as Heath posted 12 and Howell notched 11. 

Brooke Sarahina had a monster game as she picked up 46 assists and 10 digs. 

On defense, Brooklyn Jimenez and Emilly Melo combined for 41 digs. 

With the win, Simpson earns a spot in the CAC Championship game. But more importantly, they automatically qualified for the NAIA National Tournament. 

The Red Hawks capped off the day with a four-set victory over top-seeded Florida National University. 

The Conquistadors jumped on the Red Hawks early for four straight points to begin the game. 

However, the Red Hawks tipped the scale in their favor as they reeled off five straight points to take the 20-14 advantage on kills by Napoleon and Heath, while Manns owned the set-clinching kill to give Simpson the 25-19 first set victory.

The second set saw the Red Hawks clinging to a one-point lead before they reeled off six straight points to take the commanding 20-13 lead. 

A kill by Oshiro, followed by a set-clinching ace by Napoleon, gave Simpson the 25-17 second set victory. 

The Conquistadors rallied in the third set as they forced a force set on a 25-21 victory. 

Simpson closed out the tournament in grand fashion as they dominated the fourth set, as Oshiro slammed down the match-clinching kill. 

Napoleon led the team with 18 kills, Tataryn and Sarahina combined for 53 assists at the setter spot, and Jimenez led the defense with 23 digs. 

Following the win, Simpson earned three players on the All-Tournament Team, Brooke Sarahina garnered Most Outstanding Player honors, while Tiara Manns and Mariah Napoleon earned a spot on the team. 

Simpson gets ready to take part in the National Tournament opening round set to begin Nov. 22nd. 
 

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