Central Washington University Athletics

ELLENSBURG, Wash.- Led by double-figure kills by Shelby Mauritson and Sabrina Wheelhouse, the Central Washington University volleyball (6-4, 1-1) team tallied their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference win of the season with a 3-1 (25-13, 28-26, 20-25, 25-16) victory over the Clan of Simon Fraser University (3-7, 0-2).
 
"It was nice to come out in front of an amazing crowd and get the win," CWU head coach Mario Andaya said. "We stuck to the game plan offensively and created a lot of pressure for Simon Fraser. We knew that Simon Fraser were going to dig the ball after leading the GNAC in digs last season. We knew that there were going to be a lot of exchanges and long rallies, but I thought we endured that well. We came out, stayed the course and came away with the win."
 
Mauritson finished the evening totaling 14 kills, while adding 15 digs, two blocks and a service ace. Wheelhouse chipped in 10 kills on .526 hitting with zero attack errors. Wheelhouse also recorded eight blocks, two digs and a season-high two assists.
 
Mauritson and Wheelhouse have accounted for double-digit kills 13 times across ten matches this season.
 
True freshman Makala Swart nearly posted her first triple-double of her career, recording nine kills, eight digs and seven blocks. Madison Weg accounted for nine kills, hitting a clip of .250, and added three blocks and three digs.
 
The sophomore tandem of Gabrielle Aihara and Niki Cook tallied a total of 42 assists. Aihara also led Central with two service aces and 11 digs for her third double-double of the  season.
 
Simon Fraser jumped out to an early lead to begin the match, but CWU rattled off an 11-2 run to take a 13-5 advantage. The Clan attempted to mount a comeback, but the Wildcat attack was too much for SFU to handle. A block by Wheelhouse and Swart closed out the set to give the Wildcats a 25-13 win. CWU hit .355 in the frame, while holding the Clan to a .031 clip.
 
The second set featured another early run for SFU. Trailing 14-6, Mauritson sparked a CWU 3-0 run with a kill and solo block. Mauritson would remain hot for the remainder of the frame, electrifying the nearly sold-out crowd of Nicholson Pavilion. The Wildcats closed out the second set on a 13-6 run to win 28-26 and gain a 2-0 match advantage.
 
Out of the intermission, SFU once again took an early 8-4 lead. A Wildcat attack error would extend their lead to five, however, the Wildcats once again proved their resilience. Blocks by Bridgette Webb and Swart, as well as a kill by Swart, propelled CWU to a 4-0 run and their first lead of the set, 20-19. SFU would close out the frame on a 6-0 run of their own to to clinch the set 25-20.
 
Central came out to a hot start in the fourth set, leading 6-1 early.  The Wildcats led 11-5, but the Clan wouldn't go away quietly. Simon Fraser went on a 4-2 run to close the scoring margin to 14-12 in favor of CWU. Senior Sarah Joffs recorded back-to-back blocks to close out the set and give Central Washington a 25-16 win and take the match 3-1.
 
The Wildcats will travel to Portland, Ore. next Thursday (Sept. 21) to battle Concordia University (Ore.). First serve is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. between the Wildcats and Cavaliers.
 
-CWU-