Game Information: Alaska Anchorage vs. Central Washington
Thursday, Nov. 8 | 7:00 p.m. PST
Ellensburg, Wash. | Nicholson Pavilion
Watch |
Live Stats
Game Information: Alaska Fairbanks vs. Central Washington
Saturday, Nov. 10 | 7:00 p.m. PST
Ellensburg, Wash. | Nicholson Pavilion
Watch |
Live Stats
FIRST SERVE
The team returns home for their final regular season matches. On Thursday, the team hosts the University of Alaska Anchorage at 7:00 p.m. Then on Saturday, four seniors will be celebrated prior to a 7:00 p.m. match against the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
University of Alaska Anchorage
The Seawolves have had a successful 2018 season. They sit third in Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with a 13-5 conference record, 20-6 overall. On November 1, the Seawolves were upset by Seattle Pacific in five sets.
In their first meeting in Anchorage on September 8, the Wildcats outlasted the Seawolves in five sets.
Sarah Joffs led the all players with a season-high 16 kills, with six coming in the second set.
Makala Swart smashed home 14 kills, while
Shelby Mauritson picked up 12 of her own.
Gabrielle Aihara assisted on 46 of the Wildcats' 51 kills.
Alaska Anchorage has played the second most sets in conference, proving that they are battle tested. They rank second in conference in opponent hitting percentage, allowing teams to hit just .151 against them. They rank third with 2.31 blocks per set. Vera Pluharova and Tara Melton rank inside the top 15 in conference in blocks. Pluharova averages 1.19 blocks per set, fourth most. Melton averages under just one, good enough for 13
th.Eve Stephens leads the club's offense, averaging 3.17 kills per set.
University of Alaska Fairbanks
The Nanooks are inside the top four in the GNAC, sporting an 11-7 conference record while going 13-12 on the season. Momentum was on their side from September 27
thuntil October 20, when they won seven in a row. They picked up an impressive sweep over Anchorage on October 9
that home.
The Nanooks were the Wildcats first GNAC opponent in 2018. The Wildcats beat the Nanooks 3-1 on September 6. Swart was magnificent for the Wildcats. Seven of Swart's 20 kills came in the second set.Mauritsonfinished the night with 14 kills. She added 13 digs, putting together a solid night for her team.
Madison Weg was strong offensively. Weg had 13 kills on 39 attempts.
Gabrielle Aihara continued her strong junior campaign, racking up 54 assists on 60 Wildcat kills.
Kyla Morgan had a season-high 37 digs.
Alaska Fairbanks finds themselves in the middle of pack in most conference statistical categories. They rank fourth in service aces, averaging 1.55 per set. Lahra Weber leads her squad with 3.66 kills per set, fourth most in conference. Cate Whiting averages 9.91 assists per set, fifth most in conference.
LAST TIME OUT
The CWU Volleyball team hosted Northwest Nazarene and Montana State University Billings last week. The Wildcats swept both the Nighthawks and Yellowjackets.
The Wildcats outclassed the Nighthawks for a majority of Tuesday's action. As a team, the Wildcats had a 20-kill advantage over their opponents. The Wildcats held the Nighthawks to a .093 hitting percentage, while obtaining 14 blocks on the evening.
Shelby Mauritson and
Makala Swart led the squad with 13 kills each. Swart was efficient, finishing the match with a .500 hitting percentage.
Madison Weg was unreal for the Wildcats when they took on the Yellowjackets. She hammered home a game-high 13 kills on 17 attempts, notching a .765 hitting percentage for the night. Weg added five digs and two blocks for an incredible night.
FROM THE COACH
"We're to that point in the season we've talked about since last winter," head coach
Mario Andaya said. "Our vision was to be playing our best in November, and if we won some ball games along the way that put us in the playoff mix we could look to extend this ride. The Alaska schools are both very good we'll need to be at our best to beat them."
"This week is also the time we want to honor our four seniors for the incredible career they have had at CWU," Andaya added. "We've won a lot of matches with these four, but above all else the commitment and service they have displayed to our university and program is the some of the best I've seen in my career. It will be bitter sweet to see them play their last matches in Nicholson."
NEXT TIME OUT
The Wildcats will wait to see where they land in the NCAA West Regionals bracket, taking place from November 15-17.
