Box Score Burnaby, BC – In front of an electric atmosphere in the West Gym, the Simon Fraser University volleyball team took the second place team in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the 21st ranked team in the NCAA to the brink, before falling in five sets.

SFU took the second set 25-21 and the fourth 25-23 while CWU took the first set 25-21, the third 25-18 and the fifth and deciding set 17-15.

Jessica Young (Vancouver, BC) led the Clan with 23 kills and 25.5 points.  Tamara Nipp (Vancouver, BC) led the way with 50 assists and Alanna Chan (Port Moody, BC) had 20 digs.

“It's really nice to know that all our hard work is finally paying off,” said Chan.  “Even though it's a loss, it's the best we've played together as a team this year.  We'll carry that over to the next game and hopefully get the win.”

CWU jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first set but the Clan battled back, taking a 14-13 lead.  While it stayed close throughout the Wildcats edged the Clan in the opening set, 25-21.

The Clan responded in the second set, jumping out to a 5-1 lead and holding on to win by that margin, taking the second set 25-21 and tying the match at one.

The score was tied early on in the third set, but with the score tied at five the Wildcats started to build a lead and defeated the Clan in the third, 25-18, taking a two sets to one lead.

Facing defeat, the Clan battled in the fourth set.

With the score tied at four, the Clan took the next three points to open up a 7-4 lead.  The Wildcats hung around but would not lead again in the set, as the Clan took the fourth set 25-23 to force a fifth set.

Playing inspired volleyball, the Clan jumped out to an early lead in the fifth set, before the Wildcats tied things up at six and then again at seven.

Both teams battled down to the wire, with three ties late in the set at 13, 14 and 15 points, before the Wildcats took the set and the match with a 17-15 fifth set victory.

The loss drops the Clan's record to 4-14 on the season, 1-10 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

SFU will be on the road next week as they travel to Lacey, WA on Thursday to face Saint Martin's and Monmouth, OR on Saturday to visit Western Oregon.