THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The men's volleyball squad kicked off its SoCal road trip today in a nonconference midweek match against DIII, California Lutheran. 

The Red Hawks earned the first point of the night on a Kingsmen service error as they tied the game at six on a kill by Akira Davies. 

Simpson faced a two-point deficit before they reeled off four unanswered points to take the 13-11 lead as Jacob Shelton picked up a kill and a duo block with Micah Nakasato. 

Francis Gates picked up an ace and a kill to extend Simpson's lead to 18-16. But not before the Kingsmen went on a fatal 9-0 run to take the first set 25-18. 

A kill by Davies got Simpson on the board first in the second set as they took the early 5-4 lead on an ace by Nakasato and kills by Davies and Gates. 

However, the Kingsmen scored four straight points to take the 8-5 lead and never looked back as they never relinquished the lead. 

Cal Lutheran took the second set 25-17 as they went on a 6-2 run to close out the second set victory. 

The Red Hawks jumped out to the early 8-4 lead as Kobe Valdez, Nathan Richards, and Shelton picked up kills while Davies notched an ace. 

Another kill by Shelton gave Simpson the 10-8 lead before the Kingsmen went on a 12-2 run to take the commanding 20-12 lead. 

Back-to-back kills by Gates and Richards proved to be the last gasp for the Red Hawks as Cal Lutheran closed out the game on a 4-0 run. 

Richards led the team with six kills while Nakasato posted a team-high 19 assists.

Simpson picks up conference play tomorrow as they take on Soka at 6:30 pm.
 

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