Box Score

ELLENSBURG (Nov. 6) -- The duo of outside hitters Meg Ryan (Spokane/Mead HS) and Kady Try (Brentwood, Calif./Mead HS) finished with 11 kills each, and the Central Washington University volleyball team turned in a dominant performance both offensively and at the net in cruising to a 25-20, 25-20, 25-13 upset of Alaska Anchorage on Saturday night at Nicholson Pavilion.

The win enabled the Wildcats to clinch an above-.500 record both overall (12-9) and in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play (10-6) this season, while also tightening the GNAC race for third place. Central closed to within one match of third-place UAA (16-8, 11-5 GNAC) in the standings.

After rallying from a 15-12 deficit in the first set, Central Washington used a dominant blocking presence and took advantage of several Alaska Anchorage miscues in finishing off its first-set win. The Wildcats scored five straight points after that aforementioned deficit and did not trail again for the duration of the match, closing the first set on a 13-5 run and then leading from start to finish in both the second and third frames.

Offensive consistency was also a theme for the Wildcats in Saturday's win, as Central hit at least .241 in each of its three sets. They would eventually finish with a .256 hitting percentage -- more than 200 points better than the visiting Seawolves, who hit just .041. Ryan and Try spearheaded the offensive efforts, hitting .417 and .296, respectively, with Ryan fueling the first-set victory with six kills and Try leading all players with five kills in set number two.

Also steady was Central's blocking play, as they had at least two blocks in each of the three sets including five for points in the second stanza. Senior Kristel Baeckel (Gresham, Ore./Sam Barlow HS) was credited with one solo and five assisted blocks while also adding six kills and two service aces. The Wildcats' first four blocks of the match were solo stuffs against Seawolf hitters.

Aside from Ryan, Try, and Baeckel, no other Wildcat had more than three kills in the match. Defensively, both teams had relatively low dig numbers -- Central finished with a 35-34 advantage -- as the Wildcats were led by senior Brandie Vea (Honolulu, Hawaii/Kalani HS) with eight digs. Ryan and freshman Chelsie Vea (Honolulu, Hawaii/Kalani HS) added seven digs apiece.

Alaska Anchorage, which had won the last five series match-ups over the Wildcats, was led by the 10 kills of Jackie Matthisen.

Central Washington, which has now won its last seven home matches, will close out the home portion of its schedule on Monday (Nov. 8) with Senior Night. Five Wildcats will play their final collegiate home matches against Simon Fraser University. CWU then closes out the 2010 campaign at rival Western Washington next Thursday (Nov. 11).