BURNABY– Simon Fraser won the opening set but couldn't hold late leads in the next two, dropping a match 3-1 to Alaska Anchorage in Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball action Saturday evening before 285 fans in the West Gym.
 
SFU lost 25-18, 22-25, 23-25 and 12-25.
 
The loss dropped SFU to 8-4 overall and 2-3 in GNAC play. The Seawolves (12-5, 5-0 GNAC) won their fifth straight game and moved into sole possession of first place in the GNAC standings.
 
Both SFU and AAU received votes in this week's national coaches' poll.
 
SFU was led by 11 kills and nine digs from freshman Brooke Dexter, a native of Anchorage, but was outhit .308 to .177 during the contest. Senior Julia Tays had 34 assists.
 
SFU opened the match with energy and power, hitting at a .367 clip to win decisively. The set was tied 5-5 when SFU went on a 10-3 run and never looked back. Alaska never got closer than six points.
 
Alaska was trailing through most of the second set but the Seawolves turned things around following a timeout down 19-17. UAA took a 22-21 lead with two straight kills before a service error retied it, and the Seawolves won the last three points. SFU hit at a .057 percent in the set and still almost won it.
 
UAA used another late comeback in the third, erasing a 18-15 deficit with a 6-1 run. Alaska pushed the lead to 24-20. SFU fought off three straight set points, before finally falling 25-23.
 
The Seawolves closed with a dominant fourth set, jumping to leads of 8-1 and 15-5, and hitting .375 compared to SFU's .062.
 
SFU is on the road next week before returning home for games Oct. 14 and 16 for a Socktoberfest celebration with SFU branded socks tossed to fans in attendance.

-- with files from Nate Sagan - Associate Media Relations Director, Alaska Anchorage