Box Score

ARCATA, Calif. (Sept. 1) -- Senior MEG RYAN (Spokane/Mead HS) erupted for a career-high 18 kills and a .304 hitting percentage, and the Central Washington University volleyball team debuted the 2011 season with a 3-0 sweep of host Humboldt State University on Thursday night at Lumberjack Arena. Set scores in the win were 25-23, 25-16, 25-19.

The Wildcats won their season opener for the third time in the past four years, claiming their 12th consecutive win in the head-to-head series with the Lumberjacks.

Ryan, whose previous career-high had been 16 kills against Alaska Anchorage as a sophomore two years ago, improved as the match progressed. She had five kills in the opening set -- a nail-biting 25-23 win -- followed by six kills in the second and seven kills in the third set. Ryan also hit .429 in the final frame as CWU hit .209 as a team in the third set.

"Meg grinded out a ton of points for us," CWU head coach Mario Andaya said. "She showed great leadership as the match progressed.

"I'm glad to get a win under our belts with this group," Andaya continued. "Defensively, we were strong, which ultimately determined the win. Offensively, we got better each set, so that was a positive."

The Wildcats' offensive progression began with a slow start, as they totaled just nine kills and a .067 hitting percentage in the first set of the campaign. CWU had sizeable leads throughout the first set, including a 14-4 edge, but then saw Humboldt State score 10 of the next 13 points to trim the margin to three. Central later had three set points before taking the 25-23 win.

Central's offense improved in the second set, when the Wildcats hit .200 and rode the right arm of Ryan, who had nearly half (six) of her team's 13 kills in the frame. Senior setter CARLEE MARBLE (La Conner) finished with nine assists and eight digs in the set, helping CWU total 19 digs and keep Humboldt State at a .027 percentage with just nine kills.

Then, in the third set, CWU used a 5-0 run to break a 17-17 tie, and junior JORDAN OFFUTT (Leavenworth/Cascade HS) and sophomore ERIN SMITH (Selah) capped the match with consecutive kills as the Wildcats completed the sweep.

Central Washington finished with twice as many kills (38) as hitting errors (19), and edged the Lumberjacks in every statistical category except service aces and blocks. The Wildcats had three players in double figures for digs, led by junior MARCY HJELLUM (Kennewick/Kamiakin HS) with a match-high 13, followed by Marble with 11 and freshman KAELY KIGHT (Spokane/Mead HS) with 10. Marble had 27 assists and three assisted blocks, while freshman CHELTZIE WILLIAMS (Twin Falls, Idaho) also had three assisted blocks.

Humboldt State was led by Oceana Matsubu with 12 kills and 12 digs. Allison Drobish finished with a match-high six blocks for the Lumberjacks.

CWU continues its stay at the three-day tournament on Friday, facing Academy of Art University at 2 p.m.