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REDDING, Calif. - The women's volleyball squad won its home opener tonight as they took down Walla Walla University in five sets: 25-19, 25-23, 21-25, 21-25, and 15-9.

The Red Hawks took the first two sets to take the commanding lead, as the Wolves battled back to force a fifth set, denying the Wolves a reverse sweep.

Simpson took the first set convincingly as they reeled off five straight points to take the 23-17 lead on a couple of Wolves miscues, a kill by Mariah Napoleon, and a double-block by Kiersti Howell and Napoleon. A huge solo block by Kimora McKechnie cemented the Red Hawks' first set victory. 

The Red Hawks kept rolling as they played from behind early and took the 17-13 lead on an 8-1 run. Back-to-back kills by Napoleon and four hitting errors by the Wolves allowed the Red Hawks to flip the script. But with the game tied at 20, the Red Hawks went on a set-turning run of four straight points set off by a kill by Louise Oliveira and back-to-back aces by Tiara Manns. The Wolves mounted three straight points, but its comeback fell short in set two on an error to give Simpson the 25-23 victory to go up two sets. 

The Wolves did not go quietly as they went on an 8-3 run to take the third set as Sahara Brown, Michaela Porter, Bianca Adams, Lauren Moody, and Abcde Rogers each notched a kill. 

Walla Walla kept fighting as they went on a 5-1 run to take the fourth set 25-21 with back-to-back huge blocks to close out the fourth set by Lauren Moody, Sahara Browning, and Alina Shawgo.

But the Red Hawks would not be denied as they held total control of the fifth set by taking the early 4-1 lead before later going on a crucial 8-1 run to take the commanding 13-5 lead before closing out the match in five sets. 

Mariah Napoleon led the Red Hawks with 16 kills and 21 digs. Tiara Manns and Louise Oliveira each posted 13 kill performances while Oliveira posted an impressive .333 hitting percentage on the night and Manns led the team with four service aces. 

Ella Perry and Brooke Sarahina split the workload at the setter spot as they each posted 22 assists. Kimora McKechnie had a big game up front as she tallied five total blocks to go along with three aces and three kills. 

The Red Hawks are back in action September 19th as they head to SoCal to take on West Coast Baptist at 2 pm in the Caltech Tournament. 
 

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