BURNABY, BC -- Simon Fraser University swept the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks in three sets (25-18, 25-15, 25-14) in their last GNAC conference home game and on the night they honoured their graduating seniors.
This win moved the Clan to .500 on the season with a 13-13 overall record, keeping them at the 6th spot in the GNAC conference.
MUST SEE RALLY WITH ALASKA ANCHORAGE During the contest the Nanook's outside hitter Sam Harthun broke the GNAC all-time kills record. She entered the contest with 1,461 career kills and broke the record early in the first set. She finished with nine kills in the match.
This was the last night that they would play on their home court for seniors
Danielle Curtis,
Jessica Young and
Helen Yan, and they took full advantage of it. Coming out on fire, the Clan dominated the match from the start. After Harthun's record-setting 1,462nd kill, SFU's attackers took control. Five kills by
Devon May followed by four from
Emma Jennings along with defensive dominance from Curtis, delivered SFU at 25-18 first set victory.
The momentum didn't change in Set 2, as the team's seniors really elevated their play. Outside hitter
Jessica Young led her team offensively, racking up 10 total kills in the first two sets and 3 digs.
Helen Yan also contributed two digs alongside
Alison McKay's 7, which led the team to a 25-15 victory.
Staying strong by playing consistent tough Clan volleyball, SFU took set 3 more quickly than the first two. The Clan was able to make a stop to leading Nanook attackers Harthun, Maddie Davis and Kensey Mix with 2 big blocks each by SFU's May sisters, taking the lead. Four combined serving aces from Young and McKay kept the Fairbanks serve receive on their toes and allowed the Clan to take the set and match at 25-14.
Senior outside hitter
Jessica Young led the team in kills in her last home match with 13, followed by
Devon May and
Emma Jennings with 12 and 7, respectively. Senior setter
Danielle Curtis gave the Clan 10 digs and 15 assists while
Helen Yan put forth a tough serve and 3 great digs.
Jessica YoungJessica Young, a Vancouver native, has played for the Clan for 5 seasons, taking a medical red-shirt during the 2013 season. With 570 career kills and already 151 in this season alone, Young has played a crucial role in bringing the Clan to fifth spot in the GNAC for overall team kills. Young has also been a consistent force defensively, compiling 545 career digs and 181 in the 2015 season. A major in biology and a minor in kinesiology, Young hopes to pursue a career related to wildlife conservation. Before jumping into the professional world though, Young would like to travel, and play beach volleyball with her teammate
Danielle Curtis. The hard work and competitive fire that Young brings to the gym every day will be missed by her coaches and teammates.
Helen YanHelen Yan came to Burnaby Mountain from Port Moody, BC and she has been a defensive presence over her four years at SFU with over 218 career digs and 24 service aces, which has helped move the Clan to the #1 spot in the GNAC for digs per set. Yan will leave SFU with a major in biology. She plans to become a marine biologist. Yan will always be known for her hard work, positive energy, and the ability to keep a smile on the face of everyone she meets.
Danielle CurtisDanielle Curtis, who hails from North Vancouver, is finishing her 5th season with the Clan. After setting in her freshman year, Curtis demonstrated her dynamic, all-around skills by playing as an outside hitter during the 2012 season. She medically red-shirted her junior year and returned from back injury to join the Clan's starting rotation as a setter. Curtis currently has over 1,130 career assists and 643 digs and is one of the Clan's co-captains this season. She will graduate with a bachelor's degree in behavioral neuroscience and hopes to pursue grad school in order to someday work in rehabilitation or medicine. Curtis plans to continue playing beach volleyball as well as coach youth club volleyball. Curtis will be remembered by her teammates for her incredible work ethic and her willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team succeed.
The Clan will take on SMU Saints followed by the SPU Falcons next weekend in Washington for their last games of GNAC conference play and the 2015 season.
