The SFU women’s volleyball team has had a rough go over the past two weeks losing their last three consecutive matches, dropping to 4–8 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) play. However, their next win, should they find it this season, would mark their highest single-season win total since joining the conference in 2010.
SFU’s inaugural National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) season in 2010 saw its volleyball team beat four conference competitors, and the past few years have seen even fewer wins, so this year’s squad has a chance to make history in the six remaining games of the 2013 campaign.
Two losses on the road did not help as the Clan fell 0–3 to Northwest Nazarene and 1–3 to Central Washington on a southbound road trip.
The ladies opened slow in the first set against NNU as a pressing Crusaders offence made passing difficult for the Clan’s defence, and an 11–4 run for the home side hindered the SFU’s attack. After dropping the first set 25–10, the women opened the second with more intensity, falling behind twice but tying the score at 10 and 15.
Unfortunately, the ladies couldn’t hold on to what momentum they had and dropped the second and third sets by scores of 25–17, losing to the third-place team in the conference for the second time this season. Junior Kelsey Robinson had seven kills on the night while setters Tamara Nipp and Brooklyn Gould-Bradbury each had ten assists.
In the second match of the weekend, the Clan showed better teamwork and pressure as they worked the CWU Wildcats, but ultimately lost in four sets.
After dropping the first 25–21, they won the second set with a nail-biter score of 26–24, pressing the home side relentlessly for the win. Difficulties converting on offence held the Clan back in the final two sets, though, as they would drop them 25–13 and 25–20 with the loss bringing their conference record to 4–8.
Robinson again led the team in kills with 19 on the night while freshman Devon May added 11 of her own. Alanna Chan had 28 digs in the loss while setters Gould-Bradbury and Nipp added 33 and 10 assists respectively.
With the loss the Clan have dropped to an even overall record of 9–9 (including non-conference play) and will be looking for their record breaking win in the final six matches of the 2013 season.
With no players graduating from this year’s squad, this season will likely be considered one of development. If they cannot convert on the remainder of the season, the experience gained in 2013 will be a great advantage for next year, as the team will return all of its starters for another year of improvement and growth in 2014 and beyond.
