REDDING, Calif. - The men's volleyball team dropped its home opener tonight to La Sierra in a five-set thriller. 

The Red Hawks scored three straight points to begin the game, with Afatia Thompson Jr. posting an ace and Dehryn Brown earning a kill. 

Simpson held a four-point lead before the Golden Eagles rallied for seven straight points to take the 17-14 lead. 

But the Red Hawks rallied to go on a 7-1 run as Jacob Shelton posted two kills while Brown notched a kill and an ace. 

With the game tied at 22, the Red Hawks scored the final three points of the game to take the first set 25-22. 

The Red Hawks held a 19-14 lead in the second half before the Golden Eagles rallied back to tie the game at 24. 

A kill by Shelton gave the Red Hawks the match point advantage, but the Golden Eagles went on to score three straight points to even the set score 1-1. 

La Sierra kept the momentum rolling as they held off the Red Hawks in the third set to take the 2-1 set advantage with a 25-20 victory. 

Simpson came roaring back as they dominated the fourth set with a 25-14 victory to force a fifth set. 

Akira Davies led the team with three kills in the third set while Luke Konjoyan, Diego Chavez, Thompson, and Shelton each posted a pair of kills. 

Simpson held the 9-5 lead in the fifth set before the Golden Eagles countered with five straight points to take the one-point lead. 

Facing match point in favor of La Sierra, the Red Hawks scored back-to-back points with a kill by Thompson to pull the Red Hawks within two. 

But the Golden Eagles held on to the 15-13 victory to escape Redding with a five-set thrilling victory. 

Brown, Davies, and Shelton each posted 12 kills each while Tyce Nakamura led the team with 20 assists. 

Simpson looks to hit the road this week as they travel to Indiana to take on Goshen College at 2 pm (EST) on Friday. 
 

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