Women's Volleyball | 11/16/2016 8:08:00 PM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Nov. 16) – The regular season nears a close for the Central Washington University volleyball team. The final two games of the season for the Wildcats are at home against Western Oregon and Concordia (Ore.).
 
The Wildcats currently sit seventh in the region, as they vie for their fifth consecutive trip to the postseason.
 
"I think we are doing a lot of things better than we did the first time we played both Western Oregon and Concordia, but both they are as well," CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya said.  I expect both to be highly contested matches."
 
The Wildcats travelled over to Monmouth, Oregon earlier this season but fell in five sets to the Wolves.  Kiah Jones finished with 19 kills, while Bridgette Webb added 16, and Madison Weg picked up 14.
 
"Western Oregon has good power on the pins and good defense," Andaya noted.  "We have to make sure we do a better job on keying in on some of their players and control the areas of the match we feel we are strong in."
 
Allison Bettinson led Western Oregon with 22 kills.  She leads the Wolves with 318 kills, over 100 more than Amanda Short (215). 
 
Maddie Mehciz handles the setting duties for the Wolves, averaging 10.43 assists per set.  In 24 matches, Mehciz has dished out 939 assists.
 
Defensively, Paige Orth leads the front row with 74 blocks.  Christie Colasurdo has racked up 494 digs (5.26 D/Set), averaging nearly two digs per set more than Bettinson (3.20).
 
The Wolves have struggled away from home, going just 3-6 in enemy territory.
 
Concordia, on the other hand, has thrived away from home.  The Cavaliers are 6-3 when playing on the road, including their last road victory over Western Oregon (3-1).
 
When Central Washington and Concordia met in Portland, the Wildcats notched a 3-2 victory.
 
"That match could have gone either way," Andaya acknowledged.  "Both teams blocked well and played good defense.  They have some players that are tough to handle.  We need to neutralize their key players and slow them down.  If we don't cause any pressure, they are too good of a team to hope they score points for us.  We have to create points if we want to be successful."
 
Shelby Mauritson led the Wildcats against the Cavaliers, recording 17 kills.  The Wildcats combined for a hitting efficiency of .227 and 11 blocks.
 
Lindsey Dorsey led the Cavaliers with 16 kills, while Brenna Huwe notched 12.  Dorsey leads the Cavaliers with 304 kills on the season, Huwe follows behind with 281. 
 
Michele Brown handles the setting, dishing out 1,100 assists thus far.
 
Colby Barnette has recorded 106 blocks.  Anna Dols has notched 325 digs, a team high.
 
The Wildcats split last week against Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks.  The Wildcats downed Fairbanks in four, before falling in four to Anchorage. 
 
Despite falling in four to No. 11 Anchorage, the Wildcats out hit the Seawolves in the opening set .250 to .114.  Central out blocked the Seawolves 13-8 overall.
 
"When you out hit a team like Anchorage you know you are capable," Andaya added.  "How long you sustain that is crucial.  We know that we are capable of playing a match like that so we were very encouraged.  But at this point in the season there aren't any moral victories so we need to get out there and get some wins."
 
First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. on both Thursday (Nov. 17) and Saturday (Nov. 19).  Central Washington will honor seniors Jordan Deming, Erin Little, Lindsey Milner, and Jones prior to Saturday's match against Concordia.