SAN DIEGO, Calif. – It wasn't the start Simon Fraser University was hoping for as the Clan was swept in straight sets by Cal State LA in its season-opening match at the Point Loma Seaside Invitational Friday morning but the Clan rebounded to knock-off the tournament host in the evening match.
Simon Fraser actually lost the first four sets of the season, losing in straight sets to Cal State LA, before putting away Point Loma of the PacWest conference 13-25, 25-23, 25-15 and 25-22.
Simon Fraser scored some timely points when it mattered most to take the match from Point Loma. Trailing 23-21 in the second set against Point Loma, the Clan rolled off the next four points, highlighted by a service ace by freshman
Julia Tays and a decisive kill by
Mia Ricci.
Tied 1-1, SFU took command of the third set by winning the first four points, and then with an 11-7 lead, peeled off the next seven points enroute to the win. In set four, SFU was trailing 22-20 before staging the comeback, winning five consecutive points to take the match.
Point Loma had a 44-36 advantage in kills and both teams had a .109 hitting percentage. Simon Fraser had a 9-5 edge in blocks and a 9-8 advantage in service aces.
The top hitters for the Clan were
Kirsten Pinkney (12),
Christine Howlett (7), and
Mia Ricci (5).
Simon Fraser held sizeable leads in the first two sets of its season-opening match but the CSLA Golden Eagles roared back for a 25-21, 25-21, 25-13.
Kirsten Pinkney and
Tessa May had seven kills each for Simon Fraser and
Tamara Clarke had 12 assists. SFU used 13 players in the game.
Cal State LA, which plays in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, had a 37-23 advantage in kills and hit at a .209 percentage while holding Simon Fraser to a .087 clip. Simon Fraser had a 6-4 edge in blocks, while Cal State LA had a 7-3 advantage in service aces.
The Golden Eagles started the match slowly and trailed, 8-2, before taking a 14-12 advantage. Simon Fraser regrouped to take a 19-17 lead but Cal State LA scored the next three points on Simon Fraser errors to take a 20-19 lead which was extended to 22-19 and eventually the win.
Cal State LA trailed 18-12 in the second set before rallying to tie it at 19-19. The Golden Eagles pushed the lead to 23-20 lead before ending it 25-21.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a quick 14-4 lead in the final set and ultimately closed out the match easily.
SFU opens Conference play on Mon., Sept. 11, at Northwest Nazarene in a rematch of last year's NCAA West Regional quarterfinals match. Simon Fraser will play two more conference games on the road before returning home to host the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets in the West Gym on September 23 at 5pm.
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