PORTLAND, Ore. (Sept. 15) – The Central Washington University volleyball team went to five sets against Concordia University for the third-straight regular season meeting between the two sides and, for the third-consecutive time, the Wildcats came out on top (25-22, 12-25, 25-20, 26-28, 15-7).  Central is now 5-4 on the season and 1-0 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, while Concordia falls to 4-5 and 0-1 in GNAC matches.
 
"I like how physical we stayed throughout most of the match," CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya said.  "Concordia bombarded us with serves which caused us to hesitate in set two and then they took it to us."
 
The Wildcats battled back from three deficits in the first set before they were able to seal the opening stanza 25-22.
 
Trailing 2-6, kills by Sabrina Wheelhouse and Kiah Jones and a block from the same pair helped the Wildcats bring the set back to even at 7-7.  Concordia took the lead again, gaining a 16-13 advantage later in the set, before it was wiped away with three straight kills by Bridgette Webb, Wheelhouse, and Jones. 
 
Jones notched 10 kills and four block assists in total, while Wheelhouse recorded six kills and six block assists.
 
The Cavaliers took a small advantage in the last few points of the set, but the Wildcats claimed five of the final six points in part due to kills from Erin Little and Jones, as well as a service ace from Shelby Mauritson.
 
Mauritson finished with a team high 17 kills.
 
"Shelby had a good match and is doing a lot for us with her passing, defense and scoring," Andaya noted.
 
Concordia rallied for the second set, claiming it 25-12, and bringing the match back to even at one side a side.
 
Madison Weg notched a pair of kills and a block assist in the Wildcats' opening six-point run of set three.  The Cavaliers were able to slim Central's lead to one, but were never able to recover.  A block by Wheelhouse and Jones gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the set, 13-6, with a block.
 
After the Cavaliers pulled within one Wheelhouse notched a kill, which ended the Cavaliers' momentum.  Central took the third set 25-20 and a 2-1 set lead.
 
"Dorsey was tough to stop," Andaya noted.  "But when we started swinging again we capitalized and weathered the storm."
 
Central held the lead for the majority of the fourth set, after erasing an early advantage by Concordia.  A late run by the Cavaliers kept Concordia in the match and forced extra points. Facing match point, the Cavaliers were able to even the set at 24-24.  The Wildcats and Cavaliers exchanged the next four points, before Concordia claimed the fourth set at 28-26.
 
The Wildcats stormed out to an 8-4 lead in the final set and did not look back.  They claimed point in bunches during the final stanza, which culminated in a four-point run to close the match.
 
Nikole Cook finished the match with 25 assists, while Gaby Aihara dished out 20.  Kyla Morgan picked up 23 digs.  Lindsey Milner added 13. 
 
"Our setters were smart and distributed well," Andaya said of his freshman setters.  "They continue to grind and learn on the fly.  The dialogue I have with them during a match shows me they're thinking.  Niki seemed very calculated in her choices which open up good chances for our hitters.  Bridgette and Maddy have been very effective and are staying physical.  Everyone is contributing so it's nice to notch a win when that happens."
 
The Wildcats are back in action on Saturday (Sept. 17) for another GNAC matchup against Western Oregon University.  First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.