MONMOUTH, Oregon --- Simon Fraser University won the first two sets and was poised for a road victory when Western Oregon staged an epic comeback for a five-set victory in Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball action Thursday evening at the New PE Building.
SFU lost its second straight match in five sets and is now 2-6 in five set matches this season.
It was looking bleak for Western Oregon, down 20-17 to the Red Leafs in the third set after dropping the first two sets and facing a sweep at home.
But the Wolves rallied in the third set, and again in the fourth set (fighting off multiple match points) for a 3-2 win. Set scores were 22-25, 16-25, 25-23, 26-24, 15-6.
The loss drops SFU to 6-11 overall, 3-5 in the conference. The win moves WOU to 7-9 overall and to 3-5 in GNAC action.
The rally in the third set started on back-to-back errors by SFU. The Wolves trailed again 22-21 before going on a 3-0 burst and closed out the win.
In the fourth set SFU had two match points at 24-22 and 24-23 but the Wolves went on a 4-0 set-ending rally with back-to-back kills to make the final 26-24 and set up a fifth and deciding set.
The Red Leafs scored the first two points of the fifth set, but were outscored 15-4 the rest of the way.
SFU was led by
Jocelyn Sherman and
Brooke Dexter with 14 kills each,
Abby Willett with seven blocks,
Eva Person with 34 assists and
Kalissa Beltran with 20 digs.
SFU returns to action 5 p.m. Saturday against Saint Martins
-- With files from Western Oregon Athletics Communications
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