The Simon Fraser University Clan women’s volleyball team didn’t let an early deficit hold them back from racking up another win.
SFU continued its winning ways in Oregon on Saturday, knocking off the Concordia Cavaliers in a solid 3-1 triumph.
After dropping an extremely close first set 25-23 and staring at a 16-12 hole in the second frame, the Burnaby Mountain squad found the switch and changed direction en route to their 12th victory of the season.
The Clan attack was powered by outside hitters Christine Howlett and Devon May, who knocked down 17 kills apiece. A two-way threat, May also finished second on the team with 13 digs, while senior setter Tamara Nipp enjoyed another great all-around game, finishing with six kills, 55 assists, three blocks, 10 digs, and an ace.
The win boosted SFU’s record to 12-2 overall, 5-1 in conference play.
“(Saturday’s) game was a back and forth battle,” said SFU head coach Gina Schmidt. “Concordia has been playing some very good volleyball the past few weeks – they have some potent hitters and a well rounded offence.
“We did a good job of keeping pace with them offensively. Christine, in particular, gave them a lot of trouble on the right side.”
In the comeback, the rally in the second set demonstrated a lot of team character. A brilliant 6-0 run put the Clan ahead 18-16, as Howlett and May combined for five kills, while Alison McKay dropped an ace. Still, the two sides went back-and-forth, as the Cavaliers pushed ahead 24-23.
Then, Howlett and May came up big again, getting three kills in the game’s next four points, allowing SFU to take the set 27-25 on a Concordia attacking error.
The third set was decided late – tied 18-18, the Clan took control and ended the frame on a 7-2 run. Howlett was again at the forefront, with three kills in that stretch.
In the fourth frame, SFU found themselves down 14-8 midway through. The Clan again flashed its ability to score in bunches, posting a 9-3 run to even it up at 17-17.
Instead of Howlett, that run was engineered by three May kills and some excellent defensive coverage that forced the Cavaliers into mistakes on offense.
Even-up at 22 apiece, the Clan ended things on a 3-1 burst, getting one last kill each from Howlett and May to seal the result.
The Clan, who earlier in the week trumped Western Oregon 3-1, prepares for its next test this Friday against the 10-2 Northwest Nazarene Crusaders, 7 p.m. at SFU’s West Gym.
