FULLERTON, Calif. - The women's volleyball team finished play today in the Summer Slam Invitational as they took on The Master's University and Benedictine. 

Simpson dropped its first game of the day to the Mustangs as they fell in four sets. 

The Red Hawks drew first blood as they scored three straight points to open the game on back-to-back aces by Brooke Sarahina. 

The Mustangs rallied and took the 10-7 lead before a kill by Kare Ann Oshiro started a 4-0 Simpson run. 

However, the Masters created some breathing room as they scored five straight points to take the 15-11 lead. 

Back-to-back kills by Abigail Shackelford and Tiara Manns pulled Simpson within two, 20-18, but the Mustangs closed out the first set victory by outscoring Simpson 5-2. 

A kill by Kiersti Howell got Simpson on the board first in the second set as they held the early 7-3 advantage as Elizabeth Heath, Mariah Napoleon, and Manns each posted a kill. 

The Mustangs connected on eight straight points to take the 10-7 lead. 

A kill by Manns pulled Simpson within one, 13-12; however, the Mustangs pulled away on five straight points to take the 18-12 lead. 

Simpson's last charge came on three straight points on a block by Oshiro and a kill by Napoleon to pull the Red Hawks within four. 

But the Mustangs sealed the 25-18 second set victory to take the 2-0 match lead. 

The Red Hawks did not go quietly as Shackelford posted a solo block to begin the third set. 

A back-and-forth set saw nine lead changes as the Red Hawks and Mustangs exchanged rallies. 

Facing a one-point deficit, 18-17, the Red Hawks outscored The Masters 8-2 to close out the third set victory 25-20. 

A kill by Heath started the rally, followed by a kill by Oshiro to give Simpson the lead before Napoleon slammed down the final two kills to clinch the third set victory. 

But the Masters answered back in the fourth set as they jumped out to the early 11-4 lead and never looked back as they took the fourth set 25-14 to take the match. 

Manns posted a team-high 10 kills to go along with one block and seven digs. 

Mackenzie Tataryn and Brooke Sarahina combined for 32 assists and 15 digs at the setter spot. 

Brooklyn Jimenez had another solid game on defense as she notched a team-high 17 digs. 

Simpson dropped its final game of the Summer Slam Invitational to former Cal Pac rival, Benedictine, in four sets.

Ben U took the 1-0 match lead on a 25-15 first-set victory. But Simpson answered back as they took the second set 25-20 to tie the match score. 

However, Ben U took sets three and four convincingly to take the game in four. 

The team-highs included Manns posting nine kills, Sarahina notching 13 assists, and Jimenez collecting 11 digs. 

The Red Hawks look to be back in action this week Wednesday, as they take on Park University at 6 pm in Gilbert, AZ. 
 

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