Box Score: CWU vs. Cal State San Bernardino
Box Score: CWU vs. UC San Diego

MONMOUTH, Ore. (Sept. 3) -- Senior Kady Try (Brentwood, Calif./Mead HS) had 10 kills in each match, and the Central Washington University volleyball team kept the score close against both of its opponents on Friday, but the Wildcats were swept by two top-10 nationally-ranked teams at the Phoenix Inn GNAC Conference Challenge.

The Wildcats (0-2) lost to second-ranked Cal State San Bernardino (2-0) in the opening match of the day, 25-22, 27-25, 25-16, before falling to eighth-ranked UC San Diego (2-0) in straight sets by scores of 25-18, 25-14, 25-18.

In the opener, Central kept things close with the Coyotes in the first two sets, losing by just three points in the opening frame and holding three set points in the second set. In the latter, they were ahead 24-21 before CSUSB scored four straight points to take a 25-24 lead as part of a 6-1 run that gave them a 2-0 match lead.

In the third set, Cal State San Bernardino committed just one hitting error and was successful on 16 of its 27 attempts in cruising past the Wildcats for a 25-16 win. CWU had its best set percentage-wise of a very consistent match, hitting .148 in the final frame, but they totaled just nine kills in the third set.

Try and junior Meg Ryan (Spokane/Mead HS) were the top two attackers for the Wildcats, as both reached double figures in kills. Ryan ended up with team-highs of 11 kills, 10 digs, and Central's lone ace in the match, and just six players -- all starters -- had kills for CWU. Junior setter Carlee Marble (La Conner) finished with 28 assists on Central's 31 kills in the match.

Cal State San Bernardino was led by standout performances of two individuals -- Jane Chafeh and Samantha Middleborn -- who combined for 31 kills. Chafeh had 20 , while Middleborn totaled 11 and a sizzling .625 hitting percentage. Kelcie Tolan led all players with 14 digs for the Coyotes.

In the finale against the eighth-ranked Tritons of UC San Diego, Try proved to be one of the lone offensive bright spots as Central finished with just 25 kills in the three-set match. She and reigning Division II All-American Brandie Vea (Honolulu, Hawaii/Kalani HS) had 11 digs apiece to lead the Wildcats but six UCSD service aces and a hitting difference of .224 (.303-.079) spoiled any thoughts of a CWU upset bid.

Central Washington had chances late in both the first and third set against UCSD, but the Tritons reeled off the final four points of the opening frame to turn a 21-18 lead into a 25-18 win, and then closed out the match with six of the final seven tallies to go from a two-point lead into an identical 25-18 decision.

Fellow outside hitters Ryan and sophomore Marcy Hjellum (Kennewick/Kamiakin HS) joined Try as the only players to have more than one kill in the match, as those two finished with seven and four, respectively.

UC San Diego, which utilized just eight players in the match, was led by the duo of Roxanne Brunsting (11 kills, 10 digs) and Hillary Williamson (13 kills), who combined to hit .360 with 24 of the Tritons' 45 kills. Jessica Werhane led all players with 15 digs.

Central Washington will look for its first win(s) of the 2010 season on Saturday when it faces Humboldt State (0-2) and 10th-ranked Metro State (1-1) at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively. Both matches will take place at Central High School in nearby Independence, Ore., which is one of two venues being used for the two-day, eight-team tournament.