Warriors Open Season with Dominant Sweep Over Simpson

San Dimas, Calif. — The Life Pacific women's volleyball team opened its 2025 campaign in convincing fashion, sweeping Simpson University (25–10, 25–17, 30–28) on Thursday night inside Mehl Court. The victory marked the first win of the season for the Warriors, the debut victory for Head Coach Liz Salas, and a statement performance from a roster featuring 19 new players.

The Warriors displayed a balanced and efficient offensive attack, hitting .327 as a team while limiting the Red Hawks to just .112. Five different Warriors tallied at least six kills, showcasing the team's depth and versatility.

Sophomore outside hitter Kendal Collins paced the offense with nine kills and nine digs, while Jocelyn Hernandez and Kate Smith each added nine and eight kills, respectively. Smith also contributed a match-high four service aces, including back-to-back points to clinch the third set in extra points.

Setter Jadyn Armstrong guided the attack with 15 assists and three kills on an efficient .600 hitting percentage. Freshman setter Hailey Duncan chipped in 15 assists of her own along with a service ace, further underscoring the Warriors' depth at the position.

At the net, Isabel Johnson and Tionn Wise combined for six kills and three blocks, while middle blocker Abigail Oaks provided steady play on both sides of the ball. Defensively, Kate Smith anchored the back row with 12 digs, and the Warriors finished the night with 44 total digs as a unit.

After dropping the first five points of the match, the Warriors stormed back to take the opening set behind a 20–5 run fueled by Smith and Hernandez. From there, Life Pacific's balance carried them through the second set, and the third became a thrilling back-and-forth battle before the Warriors secured the sweep behind Smith's serving.

The victory is an early sign of the promise in this year's squad, which blends returning leadership with a large incoming class eager to make its mark.

Life Pacific (1–0) will return to action this weekend when the Warriors will play two matches in the HIU Summer Slam!