ASHLAND, Ore. - The Red Hawks volleyball squad continued play today in the Raider Invitational as they took on Arizona Christian and Oregon Tech. 

Simpson jumped out to the early 7-3 lead on kills from Heath Elizabeth, Kiersti Howell, and Abigail Shackelford. 

The Firestorm took the lead on six unanswered points before Simpson reclaimed the 14-10 lead on a 7-1 run. 

Tiara Manns posted four kills and a block with Howell, while Mackenzie Tataryn notched two aces. 

However, Arizona Christian rallied as they scored five straight points to flip a 19-16 deficit into a two-point lead before a crucial timeout from Coach Haworth. 

The Red Hawks pulled off a devastating 6-1 run off the timeout to claim the 25-22 first set victory on back-to-back kills from Manns to end the first set. 

The Firestorm answered back in set two as they held the 17-12 lead before the Red Hawks went on a 7-2 run to tie the game at 19. 

Elizabeth helped anchor the rally as she picked up two kills and a block, while Manns notched two blocks. 

Arizona Christian mounted a 6-2 run to claim the 25-21 second set victory to tie the match, and continued its momentum in the third set as they took the 25-15 third set victory. 

The Firestorm looked to close out the match as they held the 21-20 lead late in the fourth set. But Simpson did not go quietly as they reeled off five straight points to take the fourth set 25-21 to force the deciding fifth set. 

Simpson jumped out to the early 5-2 lead on kills by Shackelford, Manns, and Napoleon before ACU took the lead on an 8-2 run. 

The Red Hawks' final push came on back-to-back kills from Manns and Napoleon to pull within two before the Firestorm took the fifth set victory 15-11 after two straight points. 

Manns and Napoleon each posted a team-high 15 kills as they combined for four total blocks. On the defensive side, Brooklyn Jimenez notched a team-high 17 digs while Emilly Melo, Napoleon, and Tataryn combined for 43 digs. 

Game 2:

Simpson concluded play in the Raider Invitational as they took on Cascade Conference opponent (RV) Oregon Tech.

The Red Hawks drew first blood on a kill by Kare Ann Oshiro before the Owls took the early 10-7 lead on four different lead changes.

Simpson chipped away as they tied the game at 20 on three unanswered points from back-to-back aces from Michelle Sams. 

A kill by Manns and Howell pulled Simpson within two, but the Owls closed out the first set victory 25-22. 

Oregon Tech kept it rolling as they jumped out to the commanding 13-3 lead to begin the second set and never looked back as they took the second set 25-16.

Simpson came out hot to begin the third set as they took the early 5-1 advantage on kills by Oshiro and Napoleon and an ace by Manns.

A kill by Napoleon gave Simpson the 15-14 lead before the Owls went on a game-ending 11-3 run to take the match in straight sets. 

Napoleon had a team-high 11 kills while Shackelford and Tataryn combined for 25 assists and 15 digs. 

Simpson hits the road to SoCal as they take on Life Pacific on Thursday at 6 pm. 
 

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