ST. PAUL, Minn. (Sept. 4) – The Central Washington University volleyball team opened its season against Winona State University in the Holiday Inn Volleyball Clash at Concordia University St. Paul.  The Wildcats fell 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 20-25, 19-25) to the Warriors. 
 
Central Washington took a quick 2-1 lead in the first set on a kill by Sabrina Wheelhouse, until the Warriors picked up a 6-3 run to take a 7-5 lead.  Both teams traded points, until Winona pulled a 7-0 run to take the score to 17-10.  A service error by Lauren Kudronowicz ended the Warriors' run. 
 
The Wildcats stormed back into the set.  Following a block from Sabrina Wheelhouse and Madison Weg, Kiah Jones notched a kill to bring the Wildcats within four, 13-17.  The 3-0 run would mark the beginning of a 15-6 run for Central Washington.  Along the run Weg, Kaitlin Quirk, Jones, and Linden Firethorne all recorded at least one kill.  Firethorne picked up four kills and a block during the comeback, en route to the 25-23 set win.
 
Central Washington could not find a way to continue the momentum.  The Warriors jumped to a 5-2 lead in the second set.  The Wildcats pushed back and were able to even the set after trailing 12-15.  Wheelhouse took a set from Catie Fry and found the floor for a kill, before Wheelhouse and Weg blocked an attack by Winona's Goar.  On the ensuing attack by Winona, Goar could not find space and her attack went for an error.  The Warriors came back to take four straight points, and a 19-15 advantage, and would not look back in the second set. 
 
The third set was a seesaw battle with teams alternating points and leads early.  Winona State took the advantage with a 6-1 run that started with the set notched at 13-13.  The Wildcats would cut the deficit to four late in the set, but the Warriors would hang on for a 25-20 victory.
 
The Wildcats got a quick 2-0 start in the fourth with a solo block from Jones and a kill from Weg.  Winona State rallied back again to take a slight advantage that would hold until the set evened at 11-11.  The seesaw battle returned as the two teams alternated points and leads deep into the set.  The Warriors registered a 5-0 run to grab a 21-16 lead and would hang on for the win.
 
Danielle Rampart finished with 19 kills for the Warriors.  McKenna Larsen dished out 55 assists and also recorded 10 kills.
 
Firethorne finished the match with 16 kills and two block assists.  Wheelhouse was formidable at the net as she recorded eight block assists.  She also added six kills.  Jones finished with 12 kills, one solo block, and three block assists.  Fry set up 47 kills for the Wildcats.
 
"We showed some good signs of being really good," head coach Mario Andaya said afterward.  "We didn't pass as well as Winona which put us on the defensive most of the match against a very good offensive team.  It was a good match that gave us some confirmation on what we need to improve on."
 
Central Washington will be back on the court against No. 2 Concordia University St. Paul at 3 p.m. PST.