REDDING, Calif. - The men's volleyball squad hosted GSAC member Hope International tonight in a midweek match. 

The Royals jumped out to the early 4-0 lead before the Red Hawks got on the board from a service error and a kill from Francis Gates. 

The Red Hawks trailed by no more than four points in the first set as they tied the game at 20 on three straight Hope miscues. 

But the Royals went on a 5-1 run to take the first set victory 25-21 for the 1-0 match lead. 

The Royals drew first blood in the second set before a setter dump by Micah Nakasato got Simpson on the board. 

Simpson took the 5-4 lead on a kill by Kaleb Cui before the Royals grabbed the 12-8 lead. 

But the Red Hawks rallied for three straight points on two straight Hope errors and a kill by Akira Davies. 



Back-to-back kills by Davies and Cui late in the second set pulled Simpson within one as they trailed 20-19. 

The Royals held off the Red Hawks late rally as they went on a 5-2 run to take the second set 25-21 to take the commanding 2-0 match lead. 

Hope continued to roll as they took the 12-7 lead before Simpson scored three unanswered points to pull within two. 

Back-to-back kills by Cui and Kainoa Aea capped off by a huge block by Jacob Shelton made it a 12-10 game. 

The Royals took the 19-12 lead before Simpson looked to put together a late rally as they scored four unanswered points on three Hope errors and an ace by Nakasato. 

Hope finished off the game with a 25-20 third-set victory to take the match in straight points. 

Cui had a big game as he notched eight kills to go along with a .500 hitting percentage while Nakasato posted 28 assists. 

Simpson looks to bounce back as they host a round-robin tournament this week on Sunday as they take on UC Santa Cruz and Pacific Union. 
 

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