ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (Sept. 3) – The Central Washington University volleyball team fell to No. 18 Lewis University in three sets (15-25, 18-25, 19-25) in the final match of the Flyer Festival.  Central is now 0-4 on the year.
 
"Although 0-4 is not what we want, I saw some growth from this team against two very good programs," Head Coach Mario Andaya said afterward.  "Lewis may be the championship contender and Augustana will be nationally ranked after this weekend.  It was fun to coach today and to see our team buying into each other.  If we stay this course, we are going to be pretty good."
 
The Wildcats held the score at 3-3 in the opening set with a kill from Kiah Jones.  The Flyers, however, gathered points in bunches and were able to take the opening stanza 25-15.  Aly Schneider and Maddie Seliga each recorded six kills.
 
In set two, Central and Lewis exchanged the first five points of the set with Lewis taking a 3-2 advantage.  The Flyers went up 4-2, before the Wildcats battled back for a 7-5 lead.  Sara Joffs and Jordan Deming picked up kills, helping the Wildcats nab the advantage.
 
The Flyers responded with four-straight points of their own, following a kill by Joffs, claiming a 6-10 lead.  Central picked up the next two points, putting Lewis' lead at just one.
 
A five-point run by Lewis put the Flyers' advantage at 15-9.  Central held the deficit relatively close, but the Wildcats were not able to find enough momentum to overcome the Flyers in the second set. 
 
Lewis pulled ahead to a 10-3 lead in the final stanza and did not look back.  The Wildcats found moments of momentum, but the Flyers were able to halt the Wildcats each time.
 
Shelby Mauritson finished with a team high nine kills.  Weg and Deming both notched five kills.  Gaby Aihara dished out 13 assists, while Nikole Cook picked up 10.  Freshman libero Kyla Morgan recorded 11 digs.
 
Central heads to San Diego, California next weekend for the West Region Volleyball Showcase, hosted by UC San Diego.  The Wildcats will play Point Loma, BYU-Hawaii, Caly Poly Pomona, and UC San Diego from Sept. 8-10.