MERCED, Calif. - The season came to an end earlier tonight as the Red Hawks volleyball team fell in straight sets to UC Merced in the Cal Pac semifinal game.
A tandem block by honorable mention
Francis Gates and Freshman of the Year
Micah Nakasato got Simpson on the board.
A kill by
Nathan Richards tied the game at four before the Bobcats went on a 7-1 run to take the 11-5 lead.
Simpson pulled within two as they scored four straight points on a kill by Richards and Nakasato combined with blocks by
Jacob Shelton and
Flavio Mercado.
A kill by First-Team All-Conference selection
Akira Davies pulled Simpson within four before the Bobcats took the first set 25-21.
The Red Hawks held the early 8-6 lead as Davies notched three kills while Mercado and Richards picked up a kill.
The Bobcats reclaimed the 9-8 lead before a duo block by Shelton and Nakasato followed by a kill by Davies helped Simpson retake the 10-9 lead.
UC Merced scored three crucial points to take the commanding 21-16 lead before the Bobcats took the second set 25-19.
The Bobcats jumped out to the early 7-2 lead to begin the third set before the Red Hawks pulled within two on a kill by Richards.
UC Merced grew its largest lead of the third set to eight points as they took the 20-12 lead.
However, the Red Hawks did not go quietly as they went on a 7-3 run to pull within four, 23-19 on an ace by Gates and kills by Richards and Davies.
Simpson's last gasp came as they faced match point and reeled off two straight points on back-to-back kills by Davies to pull within three, 24-21.
But the Bobcats held off the Red Hawks late rally to take the 25-21 third set to take the game in straight sets.
Senior, Richards ended his career with a team-high 10 kills while Second-Team All-Conference selection Shelton led the team with six total blocks.
With the loss, Simpson says goodbye to
Kobe Valdez,
Flavio Mercado,
Nathan Richards, and
Quinn Wright as they head into the offseason.
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