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SEATTLE (Nov. 9) -- Sophomore LINDEN FIRETHORNE (Clinton/South Whidbey HS) led all players with 15 kills, and the Central Washington University volleyball team rebounded from an upset loss on Thursday with a three-set sweep of host Seattle Pacific University on Saturday night at Brougham Pavilion. The Wildcats defeated the Falcons, 25-23, 25-17, 28-26, to complete a sweep of the season series with SPU.

CWU, ranked seventh in the NCAA Division II West Region poll entering this weekend's play, improved to 13-10 overall and 9-6 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. Seattle Pacific fell to 12-10 overall and 8-6 in the conference.

Firethorne and sophomore KAITLIN QUIRK (Ellensburg) fueled the Wildcats' offensive attack, as Quirk, a middle blocker, totaled 10 kills in 16 attempts with just two errors for a .500 hitting percentage. Three other CWU players had six or more kills each.

"I was proud of how the team shrugged off Thursday's loss (at Montana State Billings) and came out with a solid performance," CWU head coach Mario Andaya said. "Linden grinded out a lot of points for us, and Kaitlin came up with some key kills."

CWU emerged as two-point victors in the first and third sets, either of which could have gone either way. The Wildcats overcame eight ties and four lead changes in the first set, and then 12 ties and seven lead changes in the third frame to complete the sweep.

"We came out a little 'out of sorts' to start the third set, but once we settled defensively we responded with a better effort," Andaya explained. "LINDSEY MILNER was solid for us defensively, and her passing keyed some big sideouts."

Milner, a redshirt freshman from Edmonds (Meadowdale HS), finished the match with 14 digs in just her second career start. Only junior libero KAELY KIGHT (Spokane/Mead HS) had more digs in the match for the Wildcats, totaling 20.

Up front, CWU had a solid match at the net with nine team blocks. Senior ERIN SMITH (Selah), who also had seven kills and hit .357, led the way with seven total blocks.

Seattle Pacific was led by the 14 kills of Madi Cavell, while Brianna Leenders led all players with 27 digs as the Falcons had a 73-69 edge over the Wildcats in total digs.

CWU will play its final away match of the regular season next Saturday (Nov. 16), visiting Northwest Nazarene University. The Wildcats then return to Nicholson Pavilion to face Saint Martin's University on Nov. 21.