REDDING, Calif. - The men's volleyball team split the weekend homestand as they took down Pacific Union College last night in four sets, but fell against Jessup University tonight in four sets. 

The Pioneers took the first set 25-23 as three straight points late in the first set helped create enough separation for the Pioneers. Simpson's last gasp came with back-to-back kills by Dehryn Brown and Jacob Shelton to pull Simpson within one before a service error allowed PUC to take the opening set. 

Simpson rallied in the second set as they flipped an 11-10 deficit on four straight points on an ace by Adonijah James Raffaelli and a kill by Diego Chavez. The Red Hawks never relinquished the lead as kills by Akira Davies and Brown sealed the second set 25-21 victory to tie the match score. 

The Pioneers and Red Hawks continued to exchange rallies in the third set as the Pioneers held the late 23-22 lead before the Red Hawks scored three straight points to take the 25-23 victory on a kill by Davies and a huge duo block by Shelton and Brown. 

Simpson held the 21-20 lead late in the fourth set before they reeled off four straight points to take the 25-20 victory as Chavez posted a kill and a block assist with Brown. 

Brown had a monster game as he posted a team-high 22 kills while Mark Bondoc and Tyce Nakamura shared the workload at the setter spot by combining for 39 assists. 

Jessup: 
Simpson concluded the weekend homestand with a four-set loss to DII opponent Jessup University tonight. 

The Warriors dominated the first set with a 25-11 victory, and they followed it up with a 25-20 second-set victory to quickly take the 2-0 match lead. 

Simpson did not go quietly as they held the early 12-6 lead. The Warriors tied the game at 22 before back-to-back kills by Chavez and Brown moved Simpson into set-point territory. 

A solo block by Brown closed out the 25-23 third set thriller to force a fourth set. But the Warriors would not be denied as they came back with a vengeance and took the fourth set 25-16 to take the match. 

Brown led the Red Hawks with 14 kills while Nakamura posted 17 assists. 

Simpson returns to action next week, on Wednesday, as they host the Cal Pac Jamboree from March 4th-6th in the James M. Grant Center. 
 

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