SEATTLE, Wash.- Behind a season-high 13 kills by sophomore Bridgette Webb, the Central Washington University women's volleyball team defeated Seattle Pacific University in four sets (25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 25-17) Saturday evening in Brougham Pavilion. CWU moved to 11-5 on the season and 6-2 in GNAC play, while Seattle Pacific dropped to 9-7 overall and 4-4 in conference play.

"Collectively we had a much better defensive effort then the last match," CWU head coach Mario Andaya explained. "SPU put some pressure on us early but defensively we adapted as the match went on. Kyla, Kaycee and Gaby were really good tonight in the backrow keeping the ball alive and giving us more chances to score. We grinded it out against a very good team so we're happy to get out of here with a win."

CWU led Seattle Pacific in hitting percentage (.177-.124), kills (56-48), and total blocks (15-10).
 
Junior Shelby Mauritson posted her 15th double-digit kill total of the season with 14.
 
Webb posted 13 kills and a .423 hitting percentage, while Sabrina Wheelhouse added 11 kills with a .476 hitting percentage to go along with nine blocks. Sarah Joffs registered 8 kills and Madison Weg totaled 7 kills.
 
Sophomore Gabrielle Aihara dished out 21 assists to lead the Wildcats, followed by Nikki Cook with 20.
 
"SPU has a really good block but Gaby and Niki did a good job working to get our attackers better swings as the match went on," Andaya said.

The Wildcats captured the first frame, 25-23, after trailing by as many as six (15-9). Trailing 22-20, Central Washington went on a 5-1 run to earn the 25-23 set victory with two kills coming from Sabrina Wheelhouse.
 
CWU stormed out to a 3-1 lead early in the second set with a pair of kills by Mauritson. The Falcons rallied to even the score at 9-9, and used multiple runs to capture the frame 25-21.
 
Central Washington and Seattle Pacific traded points early in the third set. With the score notched at 10-10, the Falcons outscored the Wildcats 8-1 to force a CWU timeout trailing SPU 18-12. Out of the timeout, Central Washington rattled off a 6-0 run to even the score once again at 18-18. CWU earned set point from a kill by Bridgette Webb and a block by Sarah Joffs and Weg would give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
Seattle Pacific came out to a hot start in the fourth set, leading 10-7 early. The Wildcats bounced back to take a 18-13 lead, and never looked back. Central Washington outscored the Falcons 7-4 to earn a 25-17 win and take the match 3-1.
 
The Wildcats return to the friendly confines of Nicholson Pavilion on Tuesday, Oct. 10 to face Northwest Nazarene University. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.
 
-CWU-