SALEM, Ore. - The women's volleyball team dropped two games in the Hampton Inn Classic in Salem, Oregon, today as they fell to No.22 Southern Oregon and No.5 Corban in straight sets.
The Red Hawks fell behind early before taking the two-point lead on a 6-1 run that included a kill by
Mariah Napoleon and aces by
Brooklyn Jimenez and
Tiara Manns.
Simpson held the lead for much of the first set until the Raiders rallied for four straight points as they went on a crucial 9-2 run to take the 22-18 lead. Taking the first set 25-20 on a kill by Tessa Zimmerman.
The fast start for the Raiders in the second set proved to be the difference as they took the early 10-3 lead on three service aces and a pair of Simpson setting errors.
Simpson reeled off three late points to pull within four before the Raiders closed out the second set 25-20 victory on a Simpson hitting error.
The Red Hawks did not go quietly as they played a stellar third set, as they held the 24-20 lead on a kill by Napoleon. However, the Raiders stunned the Red Hawks as they scored six straight points to take the 26-24 victory to complete the straight set victory.
The Raiders' front row proved to be the difference maker in the contest as they tallied 15 total blocks as a team compared to Simpson's one.
The team leaders included
Mariah Napoleon, notching 11 kills,
Ella Perry added 13 assists, and
Brooke Sarahina posted 10 digs.
Simpson falls to No.5 Corban in straight sets: 25-17, 25-18, 25-13.
The Red Hawks jumped on the board first on a kill by Napoleon as they took the early 5-2 lead on three straight hitting errors by the Warriors. However, Corban answered as they went on a 10-2 run as Corban hitters posted six kills to take the 12-7 lead.
A crucial run of seven straight points for the Warriors created enough separation for Corban to take the first set 25-17 on a kill by Greta Van Gemert.
The Red Hawks played from behind early as they tied the game at nine on back-to-back kills and a double-block by Napoleon and
Kimora McKechnie. But the Warriors rallied for a 10-3 run to take the 20-12 lead as they closed out the 25-18 second set victory on a service ace by Nadeiah Howard.
Two huge rallies told the story in the third set as the Warriors jumped out to the early 7-1 lead before reeling off eight straight points to take the commanding 18-6 lead.
The Warriors closed out the straight set victory with three straight points as Racquel Gauna claimed the game-sealing kill.
The Corban hitters displayed stellar numbers as they hit .337 as a team, totaling eight aces and 11 total blocks.
Maroah Napoleon led the team with 14 kills to go along with a .313 hitting percentage as she tallied 25 kills on the day.
Maggie Warden and
Louise Oliveira each notched three total blocks while
Ella Perry and
Brooke Sarahina combined for 25 asissts at the setter spot.
Simpson faces another strong cascade opponent tomorrow as they take on No.19 in the nation, Bushnell University, at 6 pm.
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