Central Washington University Athletics

FIRST SERVE
 
The Central Washington Wildcats (5-3, 0-0) open up GNAC Play this week, hosting No. 10 Western Washington Vikings (6-2, 0-0) this Thursday, Sept. 14, in Nicholson Pavilion. The Wildcats will then welcome Simon Fraser University (3-6, 0-1) on Saturday, Sept. 16. First serve for both matches are set for 7 p.m. PST.
 
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
 
CWU is coming off a 3-1 win against the University of California-San Diego on Saturday. The Wildcats went 2-2 last week at the West Region Showcase, while also collecting a 3-1 victory over California State University – Stanislaus.
 
CWU LEADERS
 
Junior Shelby Mauritson leads the team with 103 kills and a 3.32 kills per set average. She also ranks second on the team with 102 digs (3.29 digs/set).
 
Junior Maggie McTaggart follows with 80 kills and ranks second on the team with 2.58 kills per set. Senior Sabrina Wheelhouse has tallied 63 kills (2.03 kills/set) and ranks first on the team with a .341 hitting percentage. Wheelhouse also leads the team at the net with 44 total blocks (1.42 blocks/set), while senior Sara Joffs follows with 25 total blocks (1.14 blocks/set).
 
Sophomore Niki Cook has tallied a team-high 167 assists and 5.39 assists per set average. Sophomore Gabrielle Aihara has regiested 161 assists and 5.19 assists per set average.
 
Leading the Wildcats in digs is sophomore libero Kyla Morgan with a total of 151 (4.87 digs/set).
 
WILDCATS RECEIVE VOTES IN LATEST AVCA POLL
 
Coming off a 2-2 week, the Central Washington Wildcats received 34 votes in the latest AVCA Top-25 Poll, which ranks fourth among teams that just missed making the top-25.
 
NCAA STATISTICAL LEADERS
 
CWU enters the week ranked first in the GNAC and fifth in the nation with 151 total blocks. The Wildcats also rank sixth in the nation with 2.68 blocks per set.
 
Wheelhouse ranks first in the GNAC and 11th in the nation in blocks per set (1.42), and first in the league and fifth in the nation in total kills (44).
 
Morgan ranks among the nation's top-50 players in digs. She currently ranks 48th overall with 152 total digs and 76th overall with 4.87 digs per set.
 
SCOUTING THE VIKINGS
 
Western Washington closed out non-conference play with three wins, while competing at the Alaskan Pod of the West Region Showcase this past weekend. The Vikings recorded wins against Cal State San Bernardino (3-2), Concordia-Irvine (3-1) and Chico State (3-0). The Vikings last loss was on Sept. 7 against California Baptist. WWU's only other loss was a 3-0 defeat to No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul at the Terrace Hotel Classic in Lakeland, Flo.
 
Abby Phelps leads the Vikings with 110 kills and a 3.67 kills per set average, while also leading the team with 11 total service aces. Michaela Hall has tallied a team-best .333 hitting percentage. Brette Boesel leads WWU with 332 assists (11.07/set) on the season, which currently ranks second in the conference.
 
Joslyn Bopray currently leads the Vikings at the net, recording 1.17 blocks per set to total 35 blocks on the season. Michaela Hall ranks second on the team with 31 total blocks (1.03/set).
 
Aubrey Buckner leads the club with 142 digs (4.73/set), followed by Phelps with 129 (4.30/set).
 
The Vikings are hitting .260 as a team, while averaging 13.70 kills, 12.40 assists, 18 digs and 2.23 blocks per set.


 
-CWU-