BURNABY, B.C. – The SFU Red Leafs volleyball team fell 3-1 to the Alaska Nanooks in Fairbanks Saturday afternoon. After SFU (12-7, 7-4 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) opened with a terrific 25-14 win in the first set, the northern hosts reeled off the final three frames by scores of 25-19, 25-22, and 25-21.

Two of SFU's attacking players had excellent outings. Junior outside hitter Jocelyn Sherman (Victoria, B.C.) led the SFU offence with a game-high 15 kills on a .394 attack rate, adding 10 digs on the defensive end. Brooke Dexter, a junior opposite from Anchorage, Alaska, notched 13 kills, nine digs, four blocks and three aces. Senior middle blocker Kalyn Hartmann (Langley, B.C.) was also active, with nine kills on the afternoon. Freshman libero Macyn Unger (Prince George, B.C.) led the Red Leafs in digs (18) and aces (four).

Statistically, the game was fairly even – Alaska just edged SFU in kills 48-47 and the two sides also tied in service aces (13).

The Red Leafs hit .400 in the opening set, and finished it with 15-5 and 6-1 advantages in kills and aces, respectively. SFU trailed 2-1 before a Sherman kill and ace kick-started an extended 19-5 run that was capped off by a pair of Sherman kills. The impressive stretch had five aces, including two from Dexter and two from senior outside hitter Hanna Kolof (Vancouver). Hartmann provided three kills, while Dexter and Person added two each.

From there, however, the Nanooks turned the match around. Karli Nelson and Rilee White were a force for the hosts, combining for 27 kills and five aces between the two.

Alaska trailed 6-2 in the second set, but later put together a 14-2 surge to take control. A late 5-0 SFU run closed the gap to 21-17 but it was not enough.

The Red Leafs were ahead 20-14 in the third set before the Nanooks rallied to take 11 of the next 13 points.

The teams were tied 16-16 in the fourth before Alaska went on a mini 4-1 run, giving the hosts a lead it did not give up.

Looking to right the ship, SFU has just one game on tap next week, as they head down to Bellingham to take on the Western Washington Vikings on Saturday, October 28.

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