ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Nov. 14) – The Central Washington University volleyball swept its match against Seattle Pacific University, 3-0, with set scores of 25-16, 25-20, and 25-15. 
 
"We came out with good purpose today," CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya said.  "We knew that SPU was going to take some big swings.  They are a good physical team and like to hit hard at the pin.  We did a really good job contesting their outside hitters today.  I really liked the way we ran our offense methodically."
 
Central has won its last three matches and nine of their last ten. 
 
"The girls are buying into this part of the season and they've earned a chance to continue on in playing, but they haven't gotten content yet," Andaya noted.
 
The Wildcats continued their blocking dominance, posting 15 blocks.  Sabrina Wheelhouse had nine block assists, while Catie Fry added one solo block and five block assists.
 
Wheelhouse also recorded nine kills, on thirteen attempts, with just one error for a .615 hitting efficiency.
 
"Sabrina [Wheelhouse] is a kid that hasn't really come out of her shell yet," Andaya said of his sophomore middle.  "She knows what she is capable of and she is working to be consistent at it.  When she does, the sky is the limit."
 
The Wildcats fell behind 6-3 in the first set, but a 9-0 run put Central ahead 12-6.  Kaitlin Quirk recorded a pair of service aces, while Wheelhouse and Fry added a pair of blocks each.
 
The Wildcats closed out the first set, taking five of the last seven points. Central's defense held the Falcons to a hitting efficiency of -.054 in the opening set.
 
Points came in bunches for Central Washington in the second set.  The Wildcats went on four runs of three consecutive points or more.
 
Rachel Hanses dug out 11 attacks and recorded an assist in the set.  She finished the match with 16 digs and two assists.
 
The momentum and groove the Wildcats found in the first two sets culminated in the third set.  Central took a 12-9 lead before going on a 6-1 streak, in which Linden Firethorne had two kills and one block.
 
Firethorne had four kills and two block assists in the third set.  She finished with ten kills, a hitting efficiency of .308, and three block assists.
 
After alternating five points, CWU picked up three consecutive points and a 23-13 advantage.
 
Linden Firethorne closed the match three points later with a kill.
 
Central held Seattle Pacific to a hitting efficiency of .051, while holding the Falcons' leading hitter, Lexi Biondi, to an efficiency of .000.
 
"We were contesting everything in front of us, she [Lexi Biondi] is one of their better hitters and we did a good job of making our presence known at the net," Andaya said of the Wildcats' defense against Biondi.  "She took some big swings and scored, but we did a good job contesting her shots."
 
The Wildcats will be back in action on Tuesday (Nov. 17) in Nampa, Idaho to take on Northwest Nazarene.  First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
"We still have room to grow as a team and if we can carry this through the rest of the season we can have some pretty good wins in the future."