CENTRAL FALLS IN FIVE-SET THRILLER TO ALASKA ANCHORAGE
Wildcats Nearly Pull off Second 3-2 Win of Weekend

ELLENSBURG (Sept. 26) -- Junior Kady Try (Brentwood, Calif./Mead HS) had a team-high 18 kills and tied her season-high with 21 digs, but the Central Washington volleyball team was unable to win its second straight five-set match in falling to visiting Alaska Anchorage 17-25, 25-23, 27-25, 19-25, 15-13 on Saturday night at Nicholson Pavilion.

The loss dropped the Wildcats to 9-6 overall and 1-3 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. Alaska Anchorage, which completed a weekend sweep of Central and Western Washington, improved to 10-5 (2-1 GNAC).

Try, who also had 21 digs in Central's five-set win over Alaska on Thursday night, was one of three Wildcat players with double-digit kill totals against the Seawolves on Saturday. Teammate Meg Ryan (Spokane/Mead HS) had a career-high with 16 kills, and senior Erin Norris (Spokane/Mead HS) finished with 12 kills in a losing effort for the Wildcats.

Central claimed the first set rather convincingly after holding UAA to a .079 hitting percentage. The Wildcats then fell behind at 11-10 in the second set before nearly rallying from a 24-16 deficit by scoring seven straight tallies while facing set point. In the third set, which featured 12 ties and seven lead changes, Central led 20-18 only to watch the visiting Seawolves come back and close the frame with three straight kills from McKenzie Moss as UAA won 27-25.

The Wildcats were back in control in the fourth set, hitting a match-best .275 while holding Alaska Anchorage to a .100 hitting percentage in posting a 25-19 win.

In the decisive fifth set, Central appeared to be in control with leads of 8-4 and 13-9, but Alaska Anchorage stormed back with six straight points including four off kills from Jackie Matthisen including the match-winner.

CWU outhit Alaska Anchorage by 36 percentage points (.180 to .144) and had one more dig (98) than the Seawolves (97), adding a 9-3 advantage in aces.

Junior Brandie Vea (Honolulu, Hawaii/Kalani HS) had 33 digs to lead the Wildcats to move into third on the school's all-time dig list. Stacie Meisner led Alaska Anchorage with a match-high 34 digs. Matthisen led all players with 22 kills for Alaska Anchorage, also finishing with 15 digs and five blocks.

Central Washington will travel to Bellingham for its lone match next week, taking on rival Western Washington on Saturday (Oct. 3). The Wildcats will return home Oct. 8 to face current conference leader Seattle Pacific.

BOX SCORE:
Alaska Anchorage def. Central Washington 17-25, 25-23, 27-25, 19-25, 15-13