BURNABY, BC – Simon Fraser University swept the University of Alaska Nanooks Thursday night to capture a key road victory in straight sets 25-14, 25-20, 25-22 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball action.
 
The Clan is now 5-4 in the GNAC, good for fifth place while UA drops to 2-7.
 
SFU arrived in Alaska ready to win and showed that with domination in the first set. Wasting no time, the Clan took an initial lead of 13-5 thanks to kills from Emma Jennings and Jessica Young coupled with attack errors from the Alaska side. Sophomores Christine Howlett and Madison Power came alive in the second half of the set with a big block and four kills collectively. The Clan pushed and took the set quickly at 25-14.
 
Set two showed very little difference with another big lead by the Clan to start. Up 14-5 with kills by Tessa May, Power and Jennings, SFU continued to dominate. Despite a strong push by the Nanooks to pull within 19-22, the Clan held on and finished the set 25-20.
 
The third set proved more of a challenge for the Clan. UA kept the score to a one-point game the entire set. Battling back and fourth through a 19-19 tie, both the Clan and Nanooks brought home some big blocks by Sam Harthun for AU as well as by Power and Howlett for SFU. Finally able to pull away after a score of 21-21, the Clan cinched the set and match with a score of 25-22.
 
"We did a good job of containing their key hitters tonight," said Clan head coach Gina Schmidt. "I thought we executed our offense well, particularly in the first two sets."
 
Clan attacker Jessica Young led the team with 11 kills followed by Tessa May and Christine Howlett with 10 and 7, respectively. Libero Alison McKay led defensively with 13 kills followed closely by setter Danielle Curtis with 12.
 
The Clan takes on University of Alaska Anchorage Saturday night in Anchorage and are back at home Thursday October 29th facing Central Washing Wildcats in the West Gym at 7 PM.
 
-- @SFUClan --