SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The SFU Clan women's volleyball team (4-1) went out and dominated in their first match of the 2016 D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase, taking down the host San Fransisco State Gators in straight sets with final scores of 25-14, 25-18, and 25-11.

Senior outside hitters Emma Jennings and Devon May led the SFU attack with 10 kills apiece, while Tessa May and Christine Howlett each picked up seven. Tamara Nipp also had a nice outing, as the senior setter posted 33 assists and four service aces, both game-high marks.

"It was a solid all around performance by the team," stated SFU head coach Gina Schmidt. "In particular, we served well and that put the other team out of system for a lot of the match."

The Clan set the tone early in the first set, going on a 6-2 run to start the contest. Howlett was the key piece in that opening foray, posting three kills. Still, San Fransisco State made a match of it in the middle portion of the frame, as the Clan found themselves up 20-14 midway though. However, the Clan showed off their killer instinct from that point, going on a 6-0 streak to take the first set.

The second stanza saw Simon Fraser pick up where they left off in the first, jumping out to a 14-6 lead, a stretch punctuated by a couple kills each from Howlett and Jennings, as well as back-to-back aces from Nipp. The lead proved too much for the Gators to comeback from, despite an impressive push in the back half of the set, and the Clan eventually won the frame 25-18.

Dictating the play once more in the third set, the Clan again flashed their ability to close out an opponent, finishing the final frame on a terrific 6-1 run to claim the 25-11 win.

Another positive from Thursday's showing – with comfortable leads, Schmidt was afforded the opportunity to get some freshmen – Tamara Clarke, Betsie de Beer, Kirsten Pinkey, and Nicole Chevrier – some meaningful floor time.

"We've been focusing on our side of the court and executing as best we can regardless of who's across the net," said Schmidt. "This game did allow us to get a couple of our younger players in the game and they did a really nice job keeping a high level of play on our side."

The Clan will try and take that high level of play into the second day of the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase, as they prepare to take on the Pacwest's Fresno Pacific University Sunbirds (1-0) at 3:00 pm tomorrow.