Box Score

MONMOUTH, Ore. (Oct. 30) -- The Central Washington University volleyball team won the first set somewhat handily before dropping three straight frames to Western Oregon University in falling to the host Wolves 18-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-23 on Saturday night at the P.E. Building.

The Wildcats fell to 10-9 overall and 8-6 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with the loss, while Western Oregon improved to 12-6 overall and 10-5 in the GNAC.

Central turned in its second-best defensive match of the 2010 season on Saturday, totaling 10 blocks and 87 digs, but they were unable to carry over their first-set dominance to the final three frames.

In a very closely-contested match between two teams in the mid-to-upper half of the GNAC standings, CWU had its best offensive set in the first frame with a .214 percentage while holding WOU to a .087 mark in posting a seven-point win. Each of the final three sets were then decided by a combined 10 points, with 15 combined ties and nine lead changes.

In addition to the close decision on the scoreboard, the Wildcats and Wolves were almost even in most of the team statistical categories. Central hit just four points lower (.144 to .140) but held an 87-85 edge in digs and posted nearly identical block totals in the match. However, CWU finished with six fewer kills and were victimized by seven WOU service aces although each team scored 11 points off aces or opponents' missed serves.

Individiually, top hitters Kady Try (Brentwood, Calif./Mead HS) and Meg Ryan (Spokane/Mead HS) combined for 29 kills but were held in check from an efficiency standpoint, as neither hit above .170 (Try, who had 17 kills). Senior Kristel Baeckel (Gresham, Ore./Sam Barlow HS) was the only Wildca to hit better than .200 on the night, finishing at .300 with nine kills in her final collegiate match in her home state.

Defensively, Central was sparked by the 32 digs of senior Brandie Vea (Honolulu, Hawaii/Kalani HS), while three teammates also had 10 or more digs in the match. Ryan added 16 digs and five assisted blocks to her 12 kills, while junior setter Carlee Marble (La Conner) charted a double-double with 46 assists and 14 digs. Freshman Erin Smith (Selah) led the Wildcats' blocking efforts with six assisted blocks.

Western Oregon had three players with 10 or more kills, led by Krissi Kemper with 14. Danielle Reese amassed 12 kills and a team-high 24 digs, while Stephanie Beeler and Becky Flores had seven assisted blocks each to lead the Wolves' defensive efforts at the net.

Central Washington, which played six of its eight matches in the month of October away from home (4-4 record), will play three of its final four matches of the 2010 campaign at home inside Nicholson Pavilion. The Wildcats will open up a three-match home stand next Thursday (Nov. 4) against the Alaska Nanooks.