Box Score RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Sept. 13) -- Central Washington University sophomore KIAH JONES set a career high with 24 kills as the Wildcats defeated California Baptist University 3-1 (25-22,26-28,25-22,25-23), to finish the GNAC/PACWEST Crossover with a 3-1 record.
 
The 13^th ranked Wildcats finish non-conference play with a 7-1 record.
 
Coming into 2014, Jones had a career0high of two kills in a game, and surpassed that in the first game of the tournament when she recorded nine kills against Dixie State, and she shattered it in this game with 24 kills on 54 attemtps (.352).
 
"Kiah [Jones] really came through in some big moments today and this whole week," Head Coach Mario Andaya said. "Today our opponent had a hard time stopping her from the outside, and she consistently hit the ball hard and in play."
 
The game was close fought as each set was decided by three points or less, and the match saw 51 ties and 16 lead changes in just four sets.
 
Jones came off the bench to lift the Wildcat offense in the first set where she had six of her 24 kills.  Central Washington led by as many as five points in the opening set before winning the frame 25-22.
 
Central Washington held a 24-23 lead late in the second set, and again at 25-24 and 26-25 before CBU rattled off three straight points to steal the set 28-26.
 
The third set was much of the same as the two teams see-sawed lead changes.  With the scored tied 21-21, CWU went on a 4-1 run capped by a big kill from LINDEN FIRETHORNE, to take a 2-1 lead in the contest.
 
The Wildcats led for the majority of the fifth set, but the Lancer wouldn't go away without a fight, again tying the set at 21-21.  Kiah jones fittingly ended the Lancers hope of a comeback with a timely kill to give the Wildcats a 25-23 set win and a 3-1 match victory.
 
Although Jones may have had the most kills, Deming's offensive performance was eye catching as she had 11 kills on 18 attempts for a hitting percentage of .611.
 
"Jordan [Deming] has been really steady all year," Andaya said. "Although her offense shined today, she has been a reliable defender and passer all year long."
 
Firethorne again reached double-digit kills with 16 on 45 attempts.  As a team, CWU complied 67 kills and hit .358 in the contest.
 
Setting up all these hitters was setter CATIE FRY who recorded a season high 53 assists and even contributed to the offensive attack with six kills of her own.
 
"Fry is really good at get our hitters quality looks, that's what made her an All-American," Andaya added. "A lot of credit can be given to our passers for setting Catie up to do what she does best.  Without them it makes her job harder."
 
Maintaining a solid wall in the back was Kaley Kight who had 22 of the Wildcats 63 digs on the day.
 
 
The Wildcats will being Great Northwest Athletic Conference play this coming Thursday, Sept. 18 on the road against Northwest Nazarene University at 7 P.M. MDT.