ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University volleyball team wraps up a four-game homestand when Concordia (Ore.) invades Nicholson Pavilion on Saturday at 7 p.m. 
 
GAME INFORMATION
Concordia (Ore.) vs. Wildcats
Saturday | 7 p.m. PT
Nicholson Pavilion | Ellensburg, Wash.  
 
QUOTABLE
"Pink night is always a special night," CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya said. "I think everyone has some connection with breast cancer, or cancer in general. It's always inspiring to wear pink and represent the cause." 
 
PINK NIGHT
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. Here are just a few of the ways you can help us help women in need: Share your story of how you or a loved one have been affected by breast cancer. Make a one-time or ongoing donation. Share educational content on social media. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats handled the Western Oregon Wolves in straight sets last Thursday. Defense was the theme for the Wildcats on Thursday. The team held the Wolves to a .147 hitting percentage. The Wolves could only muster 29 kills on the match. Julia Mellander and Diana Fa'amausili were stout at the net. Mellander led the way with five total blocks, while Fa'amausili added three total blocks of her own. Offensively, the Wildcats had 44 kills on a .297 hitting percentage. They gained a major advantage from behind the service line as they totaled eight service aces to the Wolves' two.  
 
Makala Swart tied for a match-high 11 kills on the evening. She had an outstanding .360 hitting percentage. Ashley Kaufman also had a strong night, racking up nine kills and 15 digs. Fa'amausili added to her excellent defensive performance with eight kills. 
 
Gabrielle Aihara and Sydney Remsberg ran an efficient offense. Aihara led the way with 18 assists, while Remsberg wasn't far off with 17 of her own. 
 
The Wildcats and Wolves opened the first set by trading points. The score was tied at four when the Wildcats put together a 5-1 run to take a 9-5 lead. The Wolves answered with a 5-1 run that tied the set at 10. Kaufman had two consecutive kills followed by an ace. The outburst of offense started a 9-3 run for the Wildcats. Fa'amausili book-ended the run with two straight kills. From there the Wildcats were able to cruise to a 25-16 set win.  
 
Momentum from the first set carried into the second set for the Wildcats. The team opened with a massive 14-6 run. Lexi Schamadan, Fa'amausili and Swart all had two kills during that span. The Wolves tried to work their way back into the set, but the Wildcat offense continued to produce. They'd go on to take the set 25-16 and advance their match lead to 2-0. 
 
The slight pause between the second and third sets did not slow down the Wildcats. Another 13-6 run propelled the team into the lead. The Wildcats continued to roll, as the team landed on a 20-11 set lead. Kaufman fired home the final kill of the match, as the Wildcats won the set 25-17 and took the match in three sets. 
 
GNAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kyla Morgan reached a career-milestone that propelled her to her second Great Northwest Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week award this season. 
 
Morgan became the only player in program history to eclipse 2,000 career digs last week. Morgan passed Kaely Kight's 1,955 digs from the 2011 to the 2014 season to become the new program leader earlier this season. 
 
Morgan's 2,037 career digs rank fifth all-time in GNAC history. Morgan has the potential to pass Simon Fraser's Alison McKay who racked up 2,094 digs from 2013 to 2016. Morgan has consistently provided strong defense for the Wildcats. She's averaged 5.28 digs per set, good enough for sixth best all-time in the GNAC. 
 
Morgan has made an impact throughout her career. As a freshman, Morgan had 508 digs and averaged just under five digs per set. She improved on her mark during her sophomore campaign, in which she had 589 digs and averaged 5.12 digs per set. 
 
Morgan's best season came a year ago. She was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year after racking up 596 digs. She averaged 5.8 digs per set. Morgan led the conference in both categories. Along with the conference accolade, Morgan earned D2CCA All-West Region Honors, was a Member of the West Regional All-Tournament Team. She also earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-West Region Team and was AVCA All-American Honorable Mention.
 
Morgan has continued to play well throughout the early stages of her senior season. Morgan has 345 digs over 62 sets played this season. Morgan's average of 5.5 digs per set is the second best in conference and ranks 23^rd nationally. 
 
Last week, Morgan had 48 digs over eight sets of action. Last Tuesday, she racked up 27 digs against Northwest Nazarene. The number was good enough for her fourth-most in a single game this season. Morgan added 21 digs against Montana State University Billings. Offensively, she came through with eight assists and two service aces on the week. 

WILDCATS IN THE GNAC
The conference continues to work itself out as teams meet for the first time. The Wildcats rank fourth in conference by keeping opponents to a .173 hitting percentage. They rank fourth in blocks by averaging 2.20 per set. The team ranks third with 17.48 digs per set.

Several individuals are putting together quality seasons for the Wildcats. Morgan ranks second in conference with 5.62 digs per set. Mellander ranks third in conference with 1.15 blocks per set. Fa'amausili ranks eighth in blocks with .94 per set. 
 
Experienced players highlight the offensive standouts for the Wildcats. Aihara's 9.54 assists per set is the fourth best in conference. Swart ranks fourth in conference with 3.40 kills per set. The team also ranks third in both assists (12.15) and kills (13.04) per set. 
 
SCOUTING CONCORDIA (ORE.) 
The Cavaliers were picked to finish eighth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll. They feature nine returning players, including four starters. The team averaged 11.99 kills and ranked second in conference with a1.56 aces per set.
 
Jessica Wheeler was anticipated to make an impact for the Caveliers entering the season. She averaged 2.45 kills per set. Big things were also expected from Katelyn Brandenburg who averaged 1.60 kills per set and .88 blocks per set last year. Emily Zink is the team's setter who averaged 5.03 assists with 1.91 digs per set in 2018.  
 
The Cavaliers enter Saturday's match with a 7-9 overall record and have gone 5-4 in GNAC play. Last weekend, the Cavaliers outlasted Alaska Fairbanks in five sets at home. The Cavaliers lost their last match, as Northwest Nazarene took them down in five sets on Thursday. 
 
Wheeler has lived up to her preseason hype, racking up 159 kills over 53 sets played. Her average of three kills per set places her firmly inside the top 10 in the conference. Zoe DiNardo has emerged as an important piece to the Cavilers offense. The newcomer is averaging 2.53 kills per set. Brandenburg has appeared in all 64 sets for the Cavaliers this season. She's averaging 2.37 kills per set. 
 
Kahua Tilton is the team's most productive setter. She's dished out 394 assists on the season, good enough for an average of 6.16 assists per set. The mark ranks her 10^th in conference. 

SERIES HISTORY
Since the Cavaliers have entered NCAA DII, the Wildcats have never been defeated by the Cavaliers. The Wildcats sport a spotless 8-0 record. The Wildcats took both matches against the Cavaliers a season ago, sweeping the Cavs on Portland before taking them down in four sets inside Nicholson Pavilion.