Central Washington University Athletics

ELLENSBURG, Wash.- The Central Washington University women's volleyball team (17-6, 12-3 GNAC) downed the Seattle Pacific University Falcons (12-11, 7-7 GNAC) in sweeping fashion (28-26, 25-19, 25-22) Thursday evening in Nicholson Pavilion.
 
"I really liked our serve and pass game tonight," CWU head coach Mario Andaya explained. "SPU put some pressure on us after they cleaned up their passing at the end and played really good defense. We were able to stay the course and I think we served well, which I was really proud of."
 
The sophomore tandem of Niki Cook and Gabrielle Aihara combined to dish out 40 assists. Cook and Aihara also registered five and four digs, respectively.
 
Junior Shelby Mauritson totaled 14 kills and 14 digs on the evening for her 16th double-double of the season. Maggie McTaggart added nine kills, while Madison Weg posted seven.

Leading the Wildcats at the net was senior middle blocker Sabrina Wheelhouse. Wheelhouse accounted for four blocks, as well as five kills. Bridgette Webb also accounted for four blocks for Central.
 
 Sophomore libero Kyla Morgan led the Wildcats with 15 digs.
 
The Wildcats out-hit the competition for the 19th time this season, recording a .256 hitting percentage and yielding just a .167 clip from the Falcons.
 
The opening set featured a tightly contested bout and would require extra points to decide a victor. Central Washington and SPU traded points early in the first set until Wheelhouse recorded a kill which would help the Wildcats put together a 4-1 run. The Falcons responded with a 3-0 run of their own to close the scoring margin to 15-14 in the Wildcats favor. Tied 26-26, back-to-back kills by McTaggart and Mauritson gave CWU the first set, 28-26.
 
The Wildcats captured three of the first four points in the second frame for a 3-1 lead. Leading 11-10, CWU strung together a 4-1 run behind kills by Sara Joffs, Weg and Wheelhouse. The Wildcats took the second set, 25-19, after an SPU service error. Central Washington outhit the Falcons .342 to .163 in the frame and recorded six more kills (18-12).
 
The Wildcats forced an early Seattle Pacific timeout, trailing 10-5, in the third set after scoring three straight points. The 3-0 run included kills from Bridgette Webb and McTaggart. With the Wildcats ahead 15-10, the Falcons forced a CWU timeout after scoring three straight points to only trail by two, 15-13. Tied 22-22, Central Washington scored three straight points to secure the match win and take the third set 25-22.
 
The Wildcats will return to Nicholson Pavilion this Saturday, Nov. 4 to battle Saint Martin's University. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.
 
-CWU-