Central Washington University Athletics

Christian Bond

Game Information: Metro State University vs. Central Washington
Friday, Aug. 24 | 6:00 p.m. PST
Ellensburg, Wash. | Nicholson Pavilion
Watch | Live Stats 

Game Information: Fresno Pacific University vs. Central Washington
Saturday, Aug. 25 | 2:00 p.m. PST
Ellensburg, Wash. | Nicholson Pavilion
Watch | Live Stats

Game Information: CSU San Bernardino vs. Central Washington
Saturday, Aug. 25 | 7:00 p.m. PST
Ellensburg, Wash. | Nicholson Pavilion
Watch | Live Stats

FIRST SERVE
Central Washington plays host as three teams converge on Ellensburg to compete in a season opening tournament. Action begins when the Wildcats take on Metro State University on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. inside Nicholson Pavilion. 

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Metro State University 
The Roadrunners are coming off a 2017 season in which they finished third in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with a conference record of 16-2, going 22-9 overall. The Roadrunners stayed in the top half of the RMAC offensively, finishing third in hitting percentage, fifth in assists and fourth in kills. The team's leading attacker in Santaisha Sturges returns for her senior season after averaging 4.03 kills per set. 

Fresno Pacific University
The Sunbirds experienced a .500 record in Pacific West Conference play, going 10-10 with a 12-17 record overall. As a team, the Sunbirds racked up 1,445 kills, a 12.6 average per set with an attack percentage of .162. Caroline Bodziak returns as the Sunbirds top attacker, accumulating 214 kills over the 2017 season. 

CSU San Bernardino
The Coyotes won the NCAA West Region in 2017. They finished atop the California Collegiate Athletic Association South Division with a 14-3 record, going 24-8 overall. The team had 1,693 kills, 200 more than the next closest team. They averaged 13 assists per contest. The Coyotes are were strong defensively as well, blocking 2.02 attacks per game. Hailey Jackson was nearly automatic in 2017, getting 304 kills with a .355 hitting percentage. She came up with 117 blocks. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats opened their season with an exhibition against Portland State last Monday. The Vikings toppled the Wildcats 3-1, (25-23, 25-20, 15-25, 25-22). Makala Swart, Shelby Mauritson and Madison Weg reached double figures in kills. Swart led the team with 18 kills, adding 15 digs to cap off an impressive night. Mauritson had 16 kills on the match. Weg chipped in with 10 kills. The Wildcats were better on their attacks, converting 52 times to the Vikings 48. Gabrielle Aihara accumulated 45 assists. Defensively, Kyla Morgan led the way for the Wildcats with 21 digs.  

FROM THE COACH
"We are excited to start the season at home and to test ourselves against some very good teams," head coach Mario Andaya said. "It's hard to predict how you will come out the first weekend, but we're happy with the work we've put in to this point and feel we can compete at a high level."

UP NEXT
Next weekend, the Wildcats take off for Irvine, California. They'll play three more matches. The first takes place against Notre Dame de Namur on Friday, August 31, at 8:30 a.m. On September 1, the Wildcats take on Concordia (Calif) at 1:00 p.m. Later that day at 5:30p.m. the Wildcats take on CSU East Bay.