ANGWIN, Calif. - The men's volleyball squad swept the doubleheader against Pacific Union College today as they took down the Pioneers in a pair of games that ended in four sets. 

Simpson jumped out to a 13-7 lead on a kill by Afatia Thompson Jr. and blocks by Ben Stuerman and Thompson Jr. 

The Red Hawks closed out the first set as they went on a 5-2 run, as Steurman posted two kills while Dehryn Brown notched a kill and a block. 

Brown had a big first set as he notched five kills and a block as he helped Simpson secure the 25-15 first set victory. 

The Pioneers held an early three-point lead before the Red Hawks took control of the second set on a 9-1 run to take the 11-6 lead on two kills by Brown, a kill by Thompson Jr., and a solo block by Diego Chavez, on their way to a 25-17 second-set victory. 

Pacific Union responded in the third set as they took advantage of an early 6-0 run to take the 11-4 lead. Two late kills by Adonijah James Raffaelli and Brown pulled Simpson within two. But the Pioneers took the 25-22 third-set victory. 

With the game tied 16-16, the Red Hawks outscored the Pioneers 5-1 to take the 21-17 lead as Brown, Stuerman, and Thompson Jr. posted kills. 

Stuerman closed out the Red Hawks' fourth set and game one victory, 25-21,  with his eighth kill of the game.

Brown had a huge game as he notched a team-high 24 kills to go along with a .500% hitting percentage. 

Reigning Cal Pac setter of the week, David Raffaelli, had a monster game as he recorded 44 assists to go along with two kills. 

Game 2:

The Pioneers jumped out to an early 8-2 lead before the Red Hawks answered back with an 8-2 run to tie the game at 10. 

Adonijah James Raffaelli notched two kills, and Chavez posted a kill and a block to help spring the Red Hawks' rally. 

The Pioneers rallied back to take the 21-13 lead. Simpson's last gasp came as Thompson Jr. posted two kills and a block to lead Simpson on a 6-1 run to pull within three points ate in the first half. 

But the Pioneers prevailed and took the first set 25-22 on three straight points to secure the first set victory. 

The second set featured a back-and-forth contest. But the turning point came late in the second set as Simpson closed out the second set victory on a 5-1 run to take the 25-20 victory. 

A tightly played third set saw six lead changes between the Red Hawks and Pioneers as late kills by Chavez and Brown helped the Red Hawks hold onto the 25-23 third set victory. 

Simpson jumped out to the early 10-3 lead and never looked back as they completed the two-game sweep of Pacific Union with a 25-22 fourth set victory. 

Brown followed up his game one 24 kill performance with a 19 kill game to total 43 kills on the day as he notched 11 digs in the second game. 

Thompson Jr. had a solid day as he posted back-to-back double-digit kill performances to total 23 kills on the day. 

David Raffaelli had quite the day at the setter position as he notched back-to-back 40-assist games, while totaling 84 assists on the day. 

Simpson looks to stay hot as they take on UC Merced this Wednesday at 5 pm. 
 

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