Box Score

ELLENSBURG (Sept. 17) -- The Central Washington University volleyball team had a balanced offensive attack and hit .312, enabling the Wildcats to cruise to a 25-9, 25-15, 25-15 sweep of visiting Montana State University Billings on Saturday night at Nicholson Pavilion.

The win snapped a two-match losing streak for the Wildcats, who are now 7-4 overall and 2-2 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. It was also the first home win of the season for CWU, which had dropped its home opener to Seattle Pacific on Thursday night. Montana State Billings fell to 6-5 overall and 0-2 in GNAC play.

The Wildcats' hitting percentage, which was their best in a conference match in nearly three years, was aided by sensational offensive play in the first two sets, when they combined for just three hitting errors and were hitting at a .417 clip. CWU cooled off in the third set, hitting just .121 with four errors, but they took advantage of five service aces offensively, as well as five ball-handling and four service errors by MSUB to win the set in commanding fashion.

While the Central Washington offense was sizzling, the Wildcat defense kept Montana State Billings out of any offensive rhythm. CWU held the Yellowjackets to a minus-.095 hitting percentage through the first two sets, and MSUB finished the match with more errors (18) than kills (17) for a minus-.011 hitting percentage.

"I was proud of how we played defensively," CWU head coach Mario Andaya said. "Marcy (Hjellum) and Chelsie (Vea) had a very good match digging and passing, and our blocking was very effective. Carlee (Marble) and Meg (Ryan) were good tonight, and showed great senior leadership. MSUB is an improved team (from last year), so it was critical that we maintained our poise when they made any kind of push. It was nice to have the students back and for our players to play in front of a nice crowd."

Sophomore Chelsie Vea (Honolulu, Hawaii/Kalani HS) and junior Marcy Hjellum (Kennewick/Kamiakin HS) were part of a defensive effort that kept balls alive for the Wildcat offense. Vea finished with 14 digs and Hjellum added 13, while senior Meg Ryan (Spokane/Mead HS) finished with 10 digs and a match-high 10 kills.

In addition to their prowess both offensively and in the back row, Central Washington had six team blocks and fired nine service aces in the three-set affair. Junior Jordan Offutt (Leavenworth/Cascade HS) was responsible for five of the Wildcats' aces, as well as six kills and three assisted blocks, while sophomore Erin Smith (Selah) had another efficient offensive night with nine kills, a .421 hitting percentage, two aces, and two assisted blocks. Sophomore Emmy Dolan (Castle Rock) chipped into the efficient offensive night with six kills and a .429 hitting percentage.

Montana State Billings was led by Melissa Porter with six kills. Setter Brooke Tolman had 15 assists and 12 digs in a losing effort, while Amanda Berry had four service aces -- all in a stretch of five MSUB points midway through the second set -- for the Yellowjackets.

Central Washington wraps up a three-match home stand on Monday night (Sept. 19), as the Wildcats take on Walla Walla University in their final non-league contest of the season. First serve is set for 7 p.m.