Box Score

LACEY (Oct. 1) -- Outside hitters JORDAN OFFUTT (Leavenworth/Cascade HS) and MEG RYAN (Spokane/Mead HS) combined for 26 kills, and the Central Washington University volleyball team had a strong night defensively in sweeping host Saint Martin's University 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 at Marcus Pavilion.

The Wildcats snapped a two-match losing streak, improving to 9-6 overall and 3-4 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. Saint Martin's fell to 3-11 overall and 2-6 in the conference.

While the go-to hitters, Offutt and Ryan, were effective offensively with their kill totals, CWU head coach Mario Andaya felt it was the play of his defense that set the tone for the Wildcats' victory.

"We knew it would take a strong defensive effort tonight, and the team stepped up," Andaya said. "Meg, Kaely (Kight), and Chelsie (Vea) had a good defensive and passing game, which created multiple scoring opportunities for our offense."

That threesome combined for 45 of Central Washington's 63 digs for the match, with each of them reaching double figures. Ryan, who had a .379 hitting percentage and did not commit an error offensively, led all players with 18 digs, while freshman KAELY KIGHT (Spokane/Mead HS) had 15 digs in her first appearance as the team's libero. Sophomore CHELSIE VEA (Honolulu, Hawaii/Kalani HS), normally the starting libero, started as a defensive specialist and finished with 12 digs for the Wildcats.

The match was close throughout, and the Wildcats and Saints played down to the wire in the opening set. After CWU held its largest lead of the first set at six (23-17), Saint Martin's scored four straight points -- and six of the next seven -- to close to within 24-23. However, Offutt delivered her eighth kill of the frame to seal the win.

The second set saw three early ties before the Wildcats took charge. They were ahead by as many as nine points before the Saints staved off set point on three consecutive plays before CWU senior setter CARLEE MARBLE (La Conner) capped a superb offensive frame with a kill. Marble had two kills and 13 assists in the second set alone, and the Wildcats hit .364 as a team.

In the final frame, with junior setter DEVIN LARSON (Mukilteo/Kamiak HS) directing the Wildcat attack, Central Washington collected 17 kills -- with 15 assists from Larson -- and trailed 2-0 before reeling off four straight points and never trailing again. The final set belonged to Ryan, who amassed six kills in 10 attempts while also finishing with six digs.

In addition to Ryan and Offutt, sophomore ERIN SMITH (Selah) finished with six kills and Williams added five. Marble totaled 26 assists in her two sets played.

Saint Martin's was led by Kristyn Ross, who had 12 kills and 11 digs. Kristeen Juarez was next in the kill department with seven, while the Saints were led defensively by Brianna Bautista with 15 kills.

Central Washington returns home to Nicholson Pavilion to face the Alaska schools next weekend. Alaska Anchorage visits on Thursday, Oct. 6, followed by Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, Oct. 8. Both matches are slated for 7 p.m. starts.