ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - The men's volleyball squad locked up the #3 seed for the upcoming Cal Pac conference tournament as they took down Soka in straight sets. 

The Red Hawks dominated the match as they took the first set 25-6. 

The Lions drew first blood before the Red Hawks answered back to take the 11-3 lead as Francis Gates, Nathan Richards, Carlos Messer, and Akira Davies picked up kills. 

Simpson stayed hot as they closed out the first set on a devastating 10-0 run as Jacob Shelton, Micah Nakasato, Messer, Gates, and Davies picked up kills. 

Shelton put the first points on the board for the Red Hawks in set two as they held the slim 4-3 lead before going on an impressive 13-0 run to take the commanding 17-3 lead. 

Messer played a key role as he posted two kills and a block assist, Gates notched an ace and a kill, and Richards picked up a kill and a block assist. 

Simpson closed out the second set with three unanswered points by kills by Gates and Davies to take the 25-7 second set victory. 

The Red Hawks looked to close out the straight-set victory as they jumped out to the early 3-1 lead on an ace by Gates and a kill by Messer. 

The Lions kept it close early as they trailed by three points before the Red Hawks went on a crucial 9-1 run to take the 19-8 lead as Messer picked up two kills and two blocks while Tyce Nakamura registered two aces. 

Simpson closed out the straight-set victory on a 4-0 run as Kobe Valdez picked up back-to-back kills to close out the game. 

Richards, Messer, and Davies led the team with seven kills each while Gates followed close behind with six. 

The Red Hawks closes out its SoCal road trip tomorrow as they take on Westcliff at 6 pm tomorrow. 
 

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