COSTA MESA, Calif. - The men's volleyball squad concluded play tonight as they took on DII PacWest member Vanguard University tonight. 

A kill by Francis Gates to begin the night got the Red Hawks on the board followed by a kill by Akira Davies and a block by Jacob Shelton and Kobe Valdez gave Simpson the early 3-2 lead. 

However, the Lions held the 22-16 lead before Simpson mounted a rally by scoring three straight points on a block by Valdez and Gates and an ace by Carlos Messer. 

The Lions held off the Red Hawk's late rally as they returned the favor by scoring three unanswered points to take the 25-19 first-set victory. 

Simpson looked to bounce back in set two as they took the 12-9 lead on kills by Shelton, Davies, Gates, and Kainoa Aea. 

With the score tied at 16, Simpson reeled off three straight points on two kills by Davies and a block by Micah Nakasato to take the 19-16 lead. 

Simpson held the 24-21 lead as they looked to take the second set. However, the Lions had other plans as they scored five straight points to stun the Red Hawks and take the 26-24 second-set victory. 

Vanguard kept it rolling as they took the third set convincingly 25-13 to take the match in straight sets. 

Davies had a team-high eight kills as Gates followed close behind with seven kills to go along with a .357 hitting percentage.

With the loss, Simpson closes out its preseason play going 2-9 as they took on some of the nation's top teams. 

The boys are back in action next week on Thursday as they begin conference play on the road against Pacific Union College.