REDDING, Calif. - The men's volleyball team celebrated Senior Night tonight against Westcliff as they honored senior outside hitter Adonijah James Raffaelli before the match began. 

A back-and-forth first set saw the Red Hawks pull within one on a kill by Dehryn Brown. But the Warriors went on a crucial 4-0 run to take the 23-18 lead before closing out the first set victory 25-21. 

The Warriors took command in the second set as they scored seven straight points to take the 23-13 lead. Three straight points on a kill by Akira Davies, a block by Jacob Shelton and Afatia Thompson Jr., and a Westcliff error pulled Simpson within seven before a service error closed out the second set. 

Kills by Brown and Davies, combined with blocks by Shelton and Thompson Jr., helped the Red Hawks erase a three-point deficit as they tied the game at 12. A kill by Diego Chavez gave Simpson the one-point lead 16-15 before the Warriors reclaimed the lead on four unanswered points. 

Wesctliff turned the tables as they closed out the third set victory on a 10-3 run to take the 25-19 victory. 

Afatia Thompson Jr. had a big night as he notched a team-high eight kills and six digs while posting two total blocks to go along with a .400 hitting percentage. 

Tyce Nakamura anchored the setter spot as he notched 29 assists while Brown posted eight kills, followed by a seven-kill performance by Davies. 

The Red Hawks are back in action Saturday, April 11th, at 8:30 pm on the road at Pacific Union College. 
 

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