MONMOUTH, Ore. (Oct. 1) – The Central Washington University volleyball team earned its fourth Great Northwest Athletic Conference win of the season over Western Oregon University, 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-20).  The Wildcats improve to 8-4 overall and 4-1 in GNAC matches, while the Wolves fall to 4-10 and 1-4 in GNAC play.

The first 18 points of the match fell even at 9-9, but the Wildcats then took two consecutive points on a Western Oregon service error and a service ace by Jordan Deming. Central Washington was able to expand the lead to 14-10 with kills from Kiah Jones and Linden Firethorne, as well as a block by Kaitlin Quirk and Firethorne. 

Over the next 11 points, the Wildcats outscored the Wolves 7-4 making the set 21-14.  Western Oregon picked up three consecutive points to close their deficit down to just 21-17, but it would not be enough.  The two teams exchanged points, before Central Washington took the final three points of the set. 

The Wildcats kicked it up a gear in set two.  They held a 4-3 lead, before taking four consecutive points to enlarge the margin to 8-3.  With the set score 10-7, Central Washington outscored the Wolves 5-1 over the next six points. 

At 17-10 the Wildcats went on a 5-0 run that included a pair of kills from Jones, a kill from Sabrina Wheelhouse, and an ace by Firethorne.  Central Washington took the final two points of the set shortly thereafter on kills by Ashtyn Mann and Quirk.

The first eight points were split between the two teams in set three.  After a service error by Western Oregon's Alisha Bettinson, Madison Weg notched a kill before Jones tallied a kill on the next point; both assists went to libero Lindsey Milner.  Jones struck again to give the Wildcats a 6-4 lead.  Mariella Vadnenkooy ended the Wildcats' run with a kill to draw back to a one-point set. 

Quirk bookended a ball handling error by WOU's Leila Holt with a pair of kills to give CWU a 9-5 advantage, before the two sides exchanged points.  Western Oregon then notched three consecutive points to cut the deficit to one point, 10-9. 

Catie Fry registered a kill and was followed by an attack error by WOU's Bettinson.  Wheelhouse then notched another kill to extend the Wildcats' lead to 13-9.

Central Washington picked up points in bunches in the later stages of the third set.  With the score 15-12,  CWU picked up consecutive points to make the set 17-12.  Amanda Short recorded a kill for the Wolves', but Fry responded with a kill of her own.  Her kill was followed by an ace by Deming. 

A 19-14 score gave way for the Wildcats to tally three consecutive points on kills by Fry and Erin Little, as well as a block by Little and Maggie McTaggart. 

The Wolves picked up the next three points to close the gap down to 22-17.  A service error by Short gave CWU their 23^rd point.  Paige Kelsey knocked down a kill for WOU to make it 23-18.  An attack by Bettinson was blocked at the net by Wheelhouse and Fry to make the score 24-18.  Western Oregon notched two consecutive points, making the set 24-20, but McTaggart took a set from Fry and notched a kill to close out the match.

"Western Oregon came and played their game," CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya said.  "We had to get adjusted.  Their outside hitters spread us out early and we needed to make that adjustment.  When we did get comfortable, we set the tone."

Firethorne and Jones finished with 11 kills.  Wheelhouse finished with seven, while Madison Weg added five.  Fry tallied 36 assists.

"Catie [Fry] did a great job," Andaya added afterward.  "Everyone was active, Firethorne and Jones were set the most, but we were able to score with everyone.  We were able to score with Linden [Firethorne] and Kiah [Jones] fairly efficiently.  Western Oregon didn't make a lot of errors, but we did a good job of taking the opportunities they gave us to get key points."

Central Washington is back on the road Saturday (Oct. 3) for a match against Concordia University in Portland, Ore.  The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. PST.