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BELLINGHAM (Oct. 5) -- The Central Washington University volleyball team was never able to find a rhythm offensively, and ninth-ranked Western Washington University used a high-powered offensive attack of its own in sweeping the Wildcats, 25-17, 25-16, 25-11 on Saturday night at Carver Gym.

The Wildcats suffered their second straight loss to fall to 6-8 overall and 2-4 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. Western Washington improved to 11-1 overall and 4-0 in the conference.

CWU scored the first point in each of the first two sets, but those proved to be the only leads the Wildcats would have in the match. There were only two total ties -- at 1-1 in each of those two frames -- and CWU did not lead in the third set after surrendering the first three points.

Senior Erin Smith (Selah) and sophomore Linden Firethorne (Clinton/South Whidbey HS) tied for team-leading honors with six kills each, while two others -- sophomore Rachel Hanses (Yakima/West Valley HS) and senior Emmy Dolan (Castle Rock) -- added five apiece.

Junior Kaely Kight (Spokane/Mead HS) accounted for nearly half (17) of her team's 40 digs in the match, while Smith (four blocks) and Hanses (three) were the Wildcats' top front row performers on defense.

Western Washington finished the match hitting .344 as a team -- the highest single-match hitting percentage by a CWU opponent since Sept. 12, 2008 at Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.). That efficiency was fueled by four players who each totaled five more kills while hitting .400 or better. The Vikings' two most proficient attackers, Kayla Erickson (11 kills) and Emily Boerger (10 kills), hit .526 and .500, respectively.

Statistically, WWU outscored the Wildcats in every category except service aces, where each team was credited with three.

CWU will return home for the next two weekends, playing three matches inside Nicholson Pavilion during that span. The home stand begins on Thursday (Oct. 10) against Seattle Pacific University at 7 p.m.