BURNABY, B.C. – A personal-best performance by junior outside hitter Jocelyn Sherman (Victoria, B.C.) propelled the Simon Fraser Red Leafs to a season-opening 3-1 win over West Virginia State Thursday at the Hawaii Challenge in Honolulu. Sherman knocked down a career-high 22 kills, recorded a .381 attack percentage, and served up three aces to total 25.5 points. The Red Leafs won the contest by set scores of 25-27, 25-13, 25-21 and 25-22.

SFU had 9-0 and 6-1 runs to open up big leads in the fourth set, but West Virginia State battled back to stay close. The Red Leafs trailed 6-4 before a kill by junior outside hitter Hanna Kolof (Vancouver) put her on the service line for the ensuing play. She served up an ace, one of four on the run that ended with SFU up 13-6. Kills by Sherman (2) and senior middle Kalyn Hartmann (Langley, B.C.) (1) provided the other points. The Yellow Jackets won the next five points to cut the gap to 13-11.
 
Sherman hit three kills to help push the Red Leafs' lead to 19-12. WV State reduced its deficit to two points on four different occasions after this (20-18, 22-20, 23-21, 24-22), but Sherman wrapped up the set and match with a kill.
 
A kill by sophomore middle Ezawa Malish (Coquitlam, B.C.) put SFU in front 18-9 in the third set. It capped off the second 7-2 Red Leafs run of the set but the Yellow Jackets again surged late to trail by just two points at 23-21. It wasn't enough as SFU got a Sherman kill and a WVSU attack error to win the set.
 

A Hartmann kill started a staggering 13-2 second-set surge that put the Red Leafs ahead 21-8. Sherman provided four kills in the run. Malish and junior opposite Sophie Lachapelle (Kelowna, B.C.) combined for blocks on back-to-back plays to make it 19-8. Malish led SFU with a solo block and five block assists. Lachapelle had four block assists and 11 kills.
 
SFU held a 24-20 lead in the opening set but the Yellow Jackets rallied to win 27-25.
 
Freshman libero Macyn Unger posted a team-best 17 digs in her first career NCAA match after redshirting last season. The player from Prince George, B.C., also had three service aces. Reigning GNAC Freshman of the Year Eva Person recorded 47 assists from her setter position.

The Red Leafs out-blocked the Yellow Jackets 8-5 and had a 13-6 advantage in service aces. They also had a better hitting percentage of .231, compared to WVSU's .149.
 
SFU will play both tournament hosts Friday at the Hawaii Challenge, beginning with a 1 p.m. PT match at Chaminade. SFU will then face Hawaii Pacific at 8 p.m. PT.
 
Red Leafs volleyball season tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/sfu-red-leafs-season-passes-men-womens-soccer-and-volleyball-tickets-680344246957

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