The Clan snapped a two-game losing streak on Thursday, defeating the Western Oregon (WOU) Wolves in their second-last home game of the season.
SFU took the first two sets, and looked primed to sweep the Wolves. The Wolves had other plans, however, and took the game to five sets.
Western Oregon scored the first point of the match and jumped out to the early lead. SFU responded immediately, though, and came back from a three-point deficit to take the lead for much of the set, winning the first 25-22.
The Clan would take the next set in a close battle. Western Oregon scored first once again, but this time, SFU took the early lead with two straight points, the first off of an attack error by the Wolves.
At one point, SFU held a six-point lead, at 20-14, but the Wolves clawed their back into the match, tying the score at 24-24. The Clan battled back scoring the next two points to clinch the win at 26-24.
In the third set, SFU once again jumped out to the quick lead 8-3. However, they would let this one slip, allowing five straight points for the Wolves. The Clan would nevertheless hold the lead for much of the set, looking to go home early.
At the 20-point mark though, the Wolves pounced and seized the lead, going on to win the set 25-22.
The Wolves would take the next one 25-20 as well, tying up the game, jeopardizing the Clan’s once easy victory.
SFU managed to achieve the elusive victory in the fifth. For a few plays, it looked as though they might once again blow the lead after allowing the Wolves notch a three-point streak.
Middle blocker Madeline Hait had other plans, however, and closed the game with a kill — her 14th of the night — to win the final set 15-12.
Kelsey Robinson led the team with 20 kills, while libero Alison McKay led the defensive effort with 29 digs, and Brooklyn Gould-Bradbury put up a stand-out effort with 22. Robinson contributed significantly defensively as well, notching 15 digs.
With the win, the Clan improve to nine conference wins, and remain at fifth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
