REDDING, Calif. - The men's volleyball squad kicked off a two-game homestand as they welcomed Soka University of America tonight. 

The Red Hawks jumped out to the early 4-1 lead on a kill by Flavio Mercado and a duo block by Micah Nakasato and Carlos Messer. 

Simpson continued its momentum as they went on a fatal 16-4 run to take the commanding 20-5 lead as Francis Gates, Tyrus Cloat, Nathan Richards, Mercado, and Messer all picked up kills as Nakasato posted one ace. 

The Red Hawks finished the first set with a convincing 25-9 victory to take the early match lead. 

A kill by Richards got Simpson on the board first in set two as kills by D'Angelo Ross, Mercado, and Messer gave Simpson the early 5-4 lead. 

The Lions tied the game at five before Simpson scored seven unanswered points as Cloat posted four kills to give Simpson the 12-5 lead. 

The Red Hawks closed out the second set in style as they scored the final four points to take the 25-14 second set victory. 



Simpson drew first blood in the third set on a kill by Kainoa Aea followed by kills by Alexander Zimmerman and Brady Ryder to give Simpson the 5-2 lead. 

They jumped out to the commanding 13-5 lead as they outscored the Lions 8-3 as Kobe Valdez and Ross posted kills while Zimmerman notched an ace. 

The Red Hawks closed out the straight-set victory as Zimmerman accounted for the final four Simpson points as he recorded three kills and an ace to end the match. 

Cloat posted a team-high nine kills to go along with a stellar .583 hitting percentage.

Nakasato had another solid game as he notched 22 assists to go along with two aces and four digs. 

The Red Hawks concludes its two-game homestand tomorrow night as they take on #12 in the nation Westcliff University at 6 pm. 
 

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