BILLINGS, Mont. – Simon Fraser University dropped the first set and then came roaring back to defeat Montana State University Billings in four sets (11-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-21) Saturday night in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match at Alterowitz Gym.
 
SFU's Emma Jennings led all players with 19 kills in the match, as the Clan improved to .500 on the season at 7-7 and 3-3 in conference play. The 'Jackets had three players in double figures in kills, but fell to 2-12 overall and 1-5 in the GNAC with the loss.
 
The Clan got off to a slow start in the match against the Yellowjackets giving away an initial lead. With too many attack errors by the Clan, coupled with kills by Montana hitters Taylor Albertson and Ashlynn Ward, the Yellowjackets dominated the set winning easily 25-11.
 
SFU didn't let a slow start set the tone for the rest of the match, however.  Momentum shifted in between the first and second sets, as the key to SFU's victory came in building large leads early in the pivotal second and third sets.
 
Coming out strong with early kills in Set 2 were sophomore Christine Howlett and Jennings, a junior transfer from the University of Toronto, giving the Clan a 10-2 lead over Billings. They maintained dominance throughout the set and carried that momentum into the third set with a tough defense and strong offense thanks to a collective effort by Clan attackers Howlett and Jennings as well as outside hitter Jessica Young and middle blockers Madison Power and Tessa May.
 
SFU powered through and swept both sets 25-18 and 25-17. 
 
After an initial 3-3 tie between the teams, runs of 6-1 and 5-2 in the fourth set helped SFU distance itself from MSUB. Clan senior setter Danielle Curtis lead her team in the fourth, setting up Jennings for nine kills alone in the set followed by three from Howlett. The Yellowjackets climbed to within a four point deficit at 17-21, but SFU reclaimed the momentum and clinched the set at 25-21.
 
"We didn't have the start we were looking for but before the match we talked about playing consistently and we did that for the last three sets," SFU head coach Gina Schmidt.
 
Outside hitter Jennnings led the Clan tonight with 19 kills followed by Tessa May with 10 and Howlett and Young contributing 9 each. Danielle Curtis managed to set the team up with 47 assists thanks to a scrappy defense by Alison McKay with 20 digs followed by Young with 15.
 
Ashlynn Ward led the 'Jackets with 15 kills while senior setter Kyndal Williams had 44 assists.
 
SFU plays its next match at home in the West Gym against Western Oregon University at 7PM on Thursday October 8th.
 
-- @SFUClan --