Box Score

ELLENSBURG (Nov. 15) -- Senior Marcy Hjellum (Kennewick/Kamiakin HS) had match-high totals of 13 kills and 16 digs, leading the Central Washington University volleyball team to its fifth consecutive win with a 25-13, 26-24, 25-17 decision over the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday night at Nicholson Pavilion.

With the win, the Wildcats secured their first 20-win season since 2005 by improving to 20-7 overall. CWU, which was ranked eighth in this week's NCAA Division II West Region poll, improved to 13-4 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. Alaska fell to 6-17 overall and 4-13 in the conference.

Hjellum, who registered her 20th double-double of the season, hit at a .250 percentage with her 13 kills in 32 attempts (five errors). Her dig total also keyed the Wildcats' efforts in the back row, as she was one of three CWU players in double figures for digs. She also added a pair of service aces as the Wildcats finished with six total aces for the match.

Each of the three sets were closely-contested early, with the visiting Nanooks scoring first in each of the opening two sets. However, CWU recovered from an early 3-2 deficit in the first frame by scoring eight straight points and closing on a 23-10 run as Hjellum and junior Emmy Dolan (Castle Rock) combined for 11 of the team's 14 kills in the first set. CWU hit .324 while taking advantage of nine Alaska hitting errors for the sizeable victory.

The second set was quite the contrast, however, with 13 total ties and five lead changes. Following the Wildcats' final deficit at 19-18, they scored consecutive points and led or were tied the rest of the way, including a two-point margin as late as 24-22. However, Alaska fought off consecutive set points to tie the score at 24-24 before redshirt freshman Rachel Hanses (Yakima/West Valley HS) converted on consecutive kills to put CWU in front, two sets to none.

The Wildcats used a 4-0 run midway through the third set to take the lead for good, although the Nanooks closed to within one point at 14-13. A subsequent 7-1 spurt for CWU sealed the victory, however, as the hosts racked up 15 total kills and a .265 hitting percentage in the final frame to earn the sweep.

Hjellum, Hanses (10 kills), and Dolan (nine kills) accounted for most of the Wildcats' offensive attack, while CWU also capitalized on a strong night at the service line, where they outscored Alaska by a combined 12-3 (including both service aces and opponents' service errors). Sophomores Kaely Kight (Spokane/Mead HS) and Lauren Herseth (Olympia) had 12 and 11 digs, respectively, to help the Wildcats finish with a 52-45 edge in that department. Each team was credited with six blocks.

Megan Morrison came off the Nanook bench to accumulate 13 kills and a match-high four blocks.

CWU plays its regular-season finale this Saturday night (Nov. 17), hosting the University of Alaska Anchorage at 7 p.m. on Senior Night. The Wildcats will then learn of their post-season fate on Sunday (Nov. 18).