Game Information: Central Washington vs. #6 Western Washington
Thursday, Oct. 11 | 7:00 p.m. PST
Bellingham, Wash | WECU Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium
Watch | Live Stats
Game Information: Central Washington vs. Simon Fraser
Saturday, Oct. 13 | 7:00 p.m. PST
Burnaby, BC | West Gym
Watch | Live Stats
FIRST SERVE
After their five-game winning streak was snapped, the Central Washington University volleyball team strives to start a new one this weekend. They travel to Bellingham, Washington to take on Western Washington on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Then on Saturday, the Wildcats travel north of the boarder for a match against Simon Fraser at 7:00 p.m.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
#6 Western Washington
The Vikings were unfazed by any Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponent the first time through the conference schedule. Their unblemished 10-0 conference record puts them in sole possession of the top spot in the GNAC. Their toughest test was against Simon Fraser on September 25. The Clan took the Vikings into the fifth set before falling on the road 3-2. The Clan are the only conference opponent to take the Vikings to a fifth set this season.
The Wildcats and Vikings met inside Nicholson Pavilion on September 15. The Vikings sailed through the Wildcats 3-0. Throughout the contest, the Vikings used early runs to gain an advantage the Wildcats couldn't overcome. Makala Swart led the Wildcats with 14 kills. She added eight digs and three blocks for a solid night.
Abby Phelps leads the conference with 260 kills this season. She boasts 24 more kills than Shelby Mauritson and 27 more than Swart who rank second and third. Kayleigh Harper is the conference's most efficient attacker, leading everyone with a .378 hitting percentage. Brette Boesel has racked up 750 assists for an average of 11.7 per set. That puts Boesel second in conference behind Gabrielle Aihara's 12.2 assists per set.
Simon Fraser
The Clan played at .500 clip against conference opponents. Their 5-5 record have placed them in the middle of pack. The Clan is tied with Concordia (Ore), Alaska Fairbanks and Seattle Pacific for fourth place.
In their first meeting on September 13, the Wildcats dismissed the Clan 3-1. Every set featured back and forth action in the early goings. The opening set was tied at 5-5 before the Wildcats used a 15-9 run to power themselves to a win. The Wildcats used an 11-2 run in the middle of the second set to own a 2-0 lead going into the break. The Clan stole set three before being bounced in the fourth set. Mauritson and Swart smashed 16 kills each in the contest. The duo combined for 34 digs and four blocks for an outstanding night.
Kirsten Pinkney ranks fifth in conference with 193 kills. She's averaging a solid 3.3 kills per set. Tessa May also ranks fifth, but in hitting percentage. She's been successful on .335 percent of her attacks this season. Julia Tays has made herself one of the best setters in the conference. She's averaging 10.61 assists per set, one of just three players to average double figures.
LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats had a unique week of road games last time out. They took on Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho on Tuesday. The Wildcats nixed the Nighthawks 3-0. Madison Weg was relentless on both sides of the net that evening. She led all players with 13 kills on a fabulous .423 hitting percentage. Defensively, the senior out of Lynden, Washington had 13 digs.
Last Saturday, the Wildcats were stung by the Yellow Jackets of Montana State Billings 3-2. The night looked promising as the Wildcats dominated the first set 25-12. They used an impressive 18-7 run to gain their advantage. Similar success was found in the fourth set by the Wildcats. They used an 8-2 run to create separation before taking it 25-17. The Yellow Jackets outlasted the Wildcats in fifth set, completing the sweep. Sarah Absalonson stepped in as the team's setter and played very well. She had a career-high 44 assists. Defensively, Kyla Morgan was impressive, coming up with 39 digs.
FROM THE COACH
"Our goal is to compete. We know who we're are playing, the implications, and the environments we are going into, but that doesn't matter unless we are prepared to compete," head coach Mario Andaya said. "Western is as good as there is. They have the total package with a lot of experience. They are a rival and it's not hard to get up for this match, but because we are coming off a loss this challenge is even more intense."
"SFU is a tough place to play and I really like the team they have," Andaya added "A lot of weapons and good defense. We expect the typical battle when we go up there."
NEXT TIME OUT
After a couple weeks away from the Nicholson Pavilion, the Wildcats return for a pair of matches against two Oregon schools. Concordia (Ore) visits on Thursday followed by Western Oregon on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start.
