Box Score

ELLENSBURG (Oct. 10) -- Central Washington juniors Bri Gregory (Bremerton) and Kady Try (Brentwood, Calif./Mead HS) combined on a block on the Wildcats' fifth match point in the fifth set, as CWU outlasted visiting Western Oregon 25-22, 23-25, 14-25, 25-18, 19-17 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball action on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 945 at Nicholson Pavilion.

The Wildcats improved to 10-8 overall and 2-5 in GNAC play, snapping a three-match losing streak. Western Oregon, the reigning conference champion, fell to 7-12 overall and 4-4 in the conference.

Central had five match points in the fifth set, beginning with 14-13. However, each time the Wildcats went in front by one, Western Oregon managed to tie the score. After taking that 14-13 lead on Try's 19th kill of the night, CWU scored all of its points on errors by the Wolves, including the hitting error that resulted from Gregory and Try's block to close out the match.

The Wildcats emerged victorious in the first set of the match by a 25-22 count after surviving nine ties and four lead changes. They overcame a 20-17 deficit by scoring eight of the final 10 points, including seven straight behind the service of Gregory, and a kill by Erin Norris (Spokane/Mead HS) sealed the first-set win.

Central jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the second set and appeared to be on its way to a 2-0 match lead before Western Oregon rallied. The Wolves tied the score at 17-17 and, after the two teams traded the next three points before WOU scored back-to-back tallies to go in front 22-20 and, despite the Wildcats tying the score at 23 apiece, the visitors won the set on a service ace by Sylvia Herrold.

Western Oregon dominated the third set, going in front at 3-2 and never trailing again, pushing its lead to as many as 11 (the final set margin) as Danielle Reese racked up six kills in the set to help the Wolves hit .389 as a team.

The Wildcats responded in the fourth set, especially late in the frame, as they turned a one-point lead (19-18) into a seven-point win with six straight tallies. Try and junior Kristel Baeckel (Gresham, Ore.) had two kills apiece during that late-set scoring run, while Central also took advantage of two hitting errors including one on a solo block by sophomore setter Carlee Marble (La Conner).

While Try, who tied for match-high honors with 19 kills while adding 13 digs, three aces, and three blocks, was the most proficient attacker for the Wildcats on Saturday, freshman Marcy Hjellum (Kennewick/Kamiakin HS) made the most of her first collegiate start with career-high totals of 12 kills and 20 digs. Norris had 10 kills, two aces, and four blocks. Junior Brandie Vea (Honolulu, Hawaii/Kalani HS) led all players with 33 digs while Gregory was Central's top blocker with six assisted stuffs.

Western Oregon was led by Reese, who totaled 19 kills and 11 digs, while Laura Sakala and Samantha Ward added 13 kills each. Sakala hit at a match-best .462 percentage. Setter Amy Herron had 53 assists and 15 digs, while Danielle English led five Wolves in double figures for digs with 22.

Central Washington will now embark on its most extended conference road trip of the season, playing the next four away from Nicholson Pavilion. The Wildcats visit Montana State Billings and Saint Martin's next Thursday (Oct. 15) and Saturday (Oct. 17), respectively, before traveling to Alaska for a pair of matches the following week. Central next plays at home on Halloween afternoon (Oct. 31) against Northwest Nazarene.