WILDCAT VOLLEYBALL OUTLASTS NANOOKS FOR FIRST GNAC WIN
Central Snaps Three-Match Skid with Five-Set Victory over Alaska

ELLENSBURG (Sept. 24) -- Junior Kady Try (Brentwood, Calif./Mead HS) had team-high totals of 18 kills and 21 digs, helping the Central Washington volleyball team outlast visiting Alaska 25-16, 25-19, 22-25, 23-25, 15-10 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action on Thursday night at a raucous Nicholson Pavilion.

The win was the first conference victory for the Wildcats, who improved to 9-5 overall and 1-2 in GNAC play. It also snapped a three-match losing streak for CWU, which remained undefeated at home this season (5-0). Alaska suffered its first GNAC loss of the season, falling to 7-6 overall and 1-1 in the GNAC.

Central rallied from early deficits in each of the first two sets to take a 2-0 match lead, taking advantage of some slopping hitting by Alaska. The visiting Nanooks committed eight hitting errors in the first set and seven more in the second set to aid the Wildcats, who combined for just six miscues in the opening two frames.

CWU appeared to be in contention for a three-set sweep after taking early leads in the third set, but Alaska broke a 9-9 tie -- the seventh deadlock of the set -- with a 9-2 run that put the Nanooks in front by an 18-11 score. Central closed to within four on multiple occasions, and had the score as close as 24-22, before Alaska claimed the third set.

The fourth set was undoubtedly the closest of the night, as the teams had eight ties and four lead changes. The host Wildcats were two points away from winning the match after an ace by Kristel Baeckel (Gresham, Ore./Sam Barlow HS) put them ahead 23-22, but three straight Nanook kills forced a decisive fifth set.

In the final frame, Central stormed out to leads of 3-0, 5-1, 8-2, and 11-4 en route to its match victory. Senior Erin Norris (Spokane/Mead HS) sparked the Wildcats' fifth-set entourage with two early kills and consecutive service aces that pushed the lead to 8-2. She then had her 13th kill to give CWU match point at 14-9, and assisted on the match-clinching block.

The keys to the match for Central Washington were its advantages in hitting percentage (.206 to .168) and service (10 aces to four). The Wildcats also had six blocks to the Nanooks' three, overcoming a 71-57 deficit in kills and a 119-103 margin in digs.

Try, Baeckel, and freshman setter Devin Larson (Mukilteo/Kamiak HS) all finished with double-doubles for the Wildcats. Baeckel, a middle blocker, matched her career-high with 10 kills and had a career-best 11 digs, while Larson, who made her first collegiate start, had career-high totals of 47 assists and 19 digs. Norris had six service aces to increase her career total to 181, seven shy of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference career record. Junior Brandie Vea (Honolulu, Hawaii/Kalani HS), who ranks second nationally in digs, had just 20 digs in the Wildcat victory.

Alaska was paced by the 27-kill, 30-dig performance of senior Megan Thigpen. Heather Lyons came off the bench to add 17 kills and 25 digs, while Sydney Van Munster also had 10 kills. Allison Oddy led all players with 34 digs for the Nanooks, who have now dropped seven straight matches to CWU at Nicholson Pavilion.

Central Washington will host Alaska Anchorage on Saturday night (Sept. 26) at 7 p.m.

BOX SCORE:
Central Washington def. Alaska 25-16, 25-19, 22-25, 23-25, 15-10