ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Nov. 5) – The Central Washington University volleyball team took No. 11 University of Alaska Anchorage to five sets, but the Seawolves prevailed 3-2 (17-25, 12-25, 25-22, 25-20, 13-15).
 
Anchorage took the first two sets, aided by a 10-2 run to open the first set.
 
"After set two our backs were against the wall," CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya said.  We needed to find a way to get back into it and show we were capable.  We weren't giving our best and needed to compete in every aspect of the game."
 
The Wildcats regrouped during the intermission following set two and found their rhythm in the third set. 
 
"We weren't passing well in the first two sets, CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya noted. 
We found a way to compete in other aspects of the game until our passing shored up and found a way to get back into the match."
 
Trailing 19-14 the Wildcats put together a 7-0 run, taking a 21-19 lead.  The Seawolves claimed the next three points and a 23-22 lead. 
 
Kiah Jones leveled the score with a kill, before Kaitlin Quirk notched back-to-back service aces.  Sabrina Wheelhouse closed the set with a kill, 25-22.
 
Central held the Seawolves to an .077 hitting efficiency in the third set.
 
"Our block was effective," Andaya added. " We knew they were going to hit the ball in so we knew we were going to touch the ball.  Our block was effective, but so were theirs.  I was happy with how we competed towards the end and that kind of carried us.  That part of the game has been a staple of our game and it stayed intact."
 
Quirk posted 11 total blocks, nearly missing the record set by Wheelhouse (12) in a match against Simon Fraser earlier this season.  Central Washington finished the match with 13 blocks. 
 
"Quirk closed out some runs that UAA had when we had the lead," Andaya said afterward.  "She picked up some key blocks."
 
Linden Firethorne opened the fourth set with a kill, aiding the Wildcats in a 4-0 run.  Central went up 10-3 in the set and kept the Seawolves at bay to force a fifth set.
 
Firethorne finished the match with 12 kills, three block assists, two service aces, and seven digs.
 
The Wildcats had two runs of four or more consecutive points, one stretch of 3-0, and twice recorded back-to-back points en route to claiming the fourth set.
 
"To hold them in the last three sets it gave us the best chance to win," Andaya acknowledged.   "Defensively we found a good rhythm and found a way to compete.  We just need to make sure that we are competing in all aspects of our game."
 
The Wildcats held the Seawolves to a hitting efficiency under .150 in each of the last three sets.
 
Anchorage nabbed a 7-4 advantage in the final set, before the Wildcats evened the score at 8-8.  The two sides alternated points to stay even until 11-11.  The Seawolves recorded consecutive points, taking a 13-11 lead.
 
The last four points alternated, with Anchorage's Julia Mackey closing the match with a kill.
 
The Wildcats fall to 16-6 overall and 12-3 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, while Anchorage is 21-2 and 13-2 in GNAC play.
 
Central recorded 10 service aces and 13 blocks.
 
Central takes on Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday (Nov. 7).  First serve is scheduled for 8 p.m. PDT.