(Redding, CA) The Park University men’s volleyball team dropped a 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 25-19) decision to Simpson University this evening.
The Buccaneers drop to 2-11 overall and 1-8 in the California Pacific Conference. Simpson moves to 7-7, 6-3 in conference.
The first set saw the Bucs jump out to a quick 5-2 lead before the Red Hawks would tie it at 5-5. The two squads would then exchange the lead six times before being tied at 22-all. Simpson would go on the 3-0 run to close out the set and take a 1-0 lead. The Buccaneers played a solid set with 16 kills and only four errors to hit .545, but the Red Hawks were slightly better with 14 kills, only one error and hitting .619.
In the second set, Park Gilbert would lead throughout but Simpson would still make them sweat late in the stanza tying the set at 21 and 23-all. The Bucs would then win the final two points to take the second set.
However, the Buccaneers could not maintain the high level they played in the first two sets as their hitting percentage dropped in the third and fourth sets. The Bucs would only hit .097 in the third set and .143 in the fourth while the Red Hawks hit .296 and .333 over the final two sets.
Park Gilbert had three players in double figures in kills with Nico Gutierrez leading the way with 16, followed by opposite David Shafer with 13 and Ben Turcinec with 10.
Hunter Miller (25) and Jake Burdick (21) combined for 46 assists and Tyler Yu had 13 digs.
The Buccaneers will travel four hours south to take on UC Merced in match two of this three-match road trip tomorrow in Merced, Calif., at 5 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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