BURNABY, B.C. – Junior opposite Sophie Lachapelle (Kelowna, B.C.) recorded a career-best 15 kills to lead the Simon Fraser Red Leafs volleyball team to a 3-1 win over Sonoma State (California) Saturday at the Hawaii Challenge in Honolulu. The set scores were 22-25, 28-26, 25-17, and 25-23 in favour of Canada's NCAA team.
 
It was the third time in four games this week Lachapelle either tied her personal best in kills in a game or surpassed it. On Saturday, she also recorded four block assists, which matched senior middle Kalyn Hartmann (Langley, B.C.) for the team lead. Junior opposite Brooke Dexter (Anchorage, Alaska) and junior outside hitter Jocelyn Sherman (Victoria, B.C.) contributed 10 kills apiece.
 
After dropping the opening set, SFU was in danger of losing the second. The Red Leafs trailed 24-20, but a kill by junior outside hitter Davida Hill (Surrey, B.C.) started a 5-0 run that also saw a pair of Lachapelle kills and a couple of Sonoma State hitting errors. The Seawolves fought off set points at 25-24 and 26-25, but a Lachapelle kill and a service ace by sophomore libero Ava Khademi (Aurora, Ont.) clinched the set for the Red Leafs and tied the match.
 
SFU used a 10-3 run to break open a close third set, and lead 19-11. The Red Leafs induced four Sonoma State attack errors, two service errors and a bad set on the run. Dexter went up for a block to make it 17-11 before knocking down a kill on the next play. SFU increased its lead to 23-13, before it closed out the set on a service ace by libero Macyn Unger, one of a team-best three on the day by the Prince George, B.C., freshman. She also recorded 11 digs for most on the roster.
 

The Seawolves came out strong in the fourth set to grab a 6-2 lead. Hartmann delivered a kill to kickstart a 6-1 run for SFU. She and Dexter teamed up for a combination block that made it 6-5. Then Dexter recorded the Red Leafs' next two kills before the team took an 8-7 edge on a Sonoma State attack error.
 
Another 6-1 stretch later in the set – capped off by a Hartmann-Lachapelle block – gave SFU a 15-11 advantage. The Seawolves rallied to tie the set at 20-20 and 21-21, before the Red Leafs jumped back ahead 23-21. The teams traded points to give SFU two opportunities to win the match. Sonoma State saved one match point, but Hartmann finished it with a kill.
 
Sophomore setter Eva Person (Brentwood Bay, B.C.) of the Red Leafs had 21 assists while true freshman Ella McVittie (Hamilton, Ont.) had 16.
 
SFU had an attack percentage of .276 while the Seawolves hit at a percentage of .181. Kiana Richardson had 13 kills for Sonoma State. She was one of four SSU players who reached double digits in kills.
 
The Red Leafs wrapped up the 2023 NCAA season-opening Hawaii Challenge with a win-loss record of 3-1.
 
Up next is a four-game tournament co-hosted by Azusa Pacific and Cal Poly Pomona in southern California next week. The first contest will be on Thursday at Azusa Pacific at 6 p.m.

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

For the latest information on SFU Athletics, visit athletics.sfu.ca. You can also find us on social media at @SFU_Athletics.

#RepTheLeaf