REDDING, Calif. - The men's volleyball squad bounced back on day two of the Cal Pac Jamboree as they took down Pacific Union in five sets and Walla Walla in straight sets. 

The Pioneers and Red Hawks exchanged blows as the Red Hawks took the first set 25-16 with the help of a 5-0 run to begin the game. 

Back-to-back blocks by Ben Stuerman and Dehryn Brown, followed by two straight kills by Brown, gave Simpson the early momentum. 

Simpson closed out the first set victory on a 4-1 run as an ace by Stuerman moved Simpson into set point territory before a kill by Chase Silveira concluded the first set 25-16 victory. 

The Pioneers returned the favor with a 25-16 second-set victory. 

Holding onto a 15-14 lead, the Red Hawks went on a crucial 6-1 run to take the 21-15 lead before closing out the set 25-20 on a kill by Afatia Thompson Jr. 

Pacific Union rode a crucial 7-1 run to take the 16-6 lead in the fourth set. Simpson rallied late as they pulled within two on a 5-1 run, but the Pioneers forced a fifth set with a 25-22 fourth set victory. 

With the game tied at 10, the Red Hawks rallied for four straight points on a kill by Brown and a block and service ace by Diego Chavez to move into match point territory before a service error by the Pioneers sealed the fifth set victory for the Red Hawks. 

Brown led the team with 18 kills, seven total blocks, and nine digs. David Raffaelli and Tyce Nakamura split time at the setter position as they combined for 37 assists and 11 digs. 

Game 2:
A thrilling third game of the day saw the Red Hawks take down the Wolves in straight sets, while two out of the three sets went beyond the standard 25 points. 

Holding onto a 19-17 lead, a kill by Chavez started a streak of four straight points to create enough separation to take the first set 25-19. 

The Wolves did not go quietly in the second set as they exchanged rallies to tie the game at 24 before the Red Hawks closed out the second set victory on back-to-back points on a kill by Brown and a duo block by Akira Davies and Chavez. 

The Red Hawks and Wolves played an exhilarating third set as it moved well beyond the 25-point mark. 

Simpson trailed 19-14 and chipped away before tying the game at 22 on an ace by Stuerman. A back-and-forth battle held the Red Hawks and Wolves deadlocked at 29 before back-to-back kills by Chavez and Silveira closed out the third set thriller to give Simpson the straight set victory. 

Brown and Silveira led the Red Hawks with 10 kills each, while Silveira led the Simpson defense with 10 digs. 

Simpson concludes play in the Cal Pac Jamboree tomorrow as they take on Walla Walla at 11 am. 
 

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