BURNABY, B.C. - The Western Oregon volleyball team fell in straight sets at Simon Fraser – 25-20, 26-24, 25-17 – Thursday night at the SFU West Gym.
 
Sydney Blankinship led WOU with 10 kills while Alisha Bettinson and Paige Kelsey each had nine. Blankinship and Amanda Short combined on four blocks. Christie Colasurdo led the Wolves with 23 digs and Leila Holt had 31 assists.
 
Western Oregon (4-12, 1-6 GNAC) had seven team blocks on the night and outhit the host Clan (8-7, 4-3 GNAC) .211 to .205 for the match. What eventually led to WOU's demise in conference play was 15 service errors compared to none for SFU.
 
The opening set saw Western Oregon supply a balanced attack that erased an early deficit. Trailing by one, 14-13, Simon Fraser strung together four straight points to build a five-point advantage. WOU was unable to trim the Clan lead despite two late kills from Short.
 
Set two was filled with big runs. Western Oregon took six of the first nine points of the set behind two Kelsey kills. Eight of the next nine points went to SFU for an 11-7 advantage. Points evened from side to side until the set played to a 19-16 score. WOU swung momentum in its favor with a 7-1 run that was aided by four blocks. A kill from Short gave the Wolves a game point, but the Clan closed out the comeback effort with four successive points to take the game, 26-24.
 
WOU made several consecutive-point runs, but could not keep the Clan from doing the same. Two kills from Blankinship followed a Holt rally-sparking swing to put WOU down one point, 10-9. Successive runs on two rotations bolstered the Clan. The host team would close out the match with four kills and a service ace after a game three triumph, 25-17.
 
Madison Power had 14 kills to lead SFU. Jessica Young added 12 kills and 17 digs.
 
Western Oregon will visit No. 15 Western Washington on Saturday at 7 p.m. on the campus of Whatcom Community College.