FAIRBANKS, ALASKA – The Central Washington University volleyball team took on the University of Alaska Fairbanks in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Saturday. The Wildcats gained a 2-1 match lead before the Nanooks to stormed back to take the match 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 21-25, 25-18, 15-9) on Saturday afternoon. 
 
The Wildcat (8-6, 3-3 GNAC) offense was hindered by the Nanook (8-6, 5-1 GNAC) defense. The Nanooks came up with 14 total blocks. The home squad had 82 digs to the Wildcats' 78. The Wildcats were held to a .111 hitting percentage for the game. 
 
"We did a nice job over coming some adversity throughout the match but, too many errors cost us at the end," CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya said. "We'll get back at and learn for this. We have a short turn around so we'll need to get back recover and get ready for Tuesday."
 
The Nanooks opened the first set with an 8-4 run. They'd go on to use a 6-3 run to take a 13-7 lead. The Wildcats mustered a small 4-1 run that cut the Nanooks lead to 14-11. The Nanooks answered with an identical run, pushing their lead to 18-12. A service error opened the door for the Wildcats. Bridgette Webb followed with a kill that was a part of a 5-1 run that trimmed the Nanooks lead to 19-17. The Nanooks were able to pull away late to take the opening set 25-22. 
 
The two teams traded points to begin the second set as the score landed on 5-5. Ashley Kaufman buried a kill that sparked a 13-4 run. The run featured two kills from Makala Swart and a service ace from Kyla Morgan. At the end of the run, the Wildcats led 18-9. The Nanooks answered with a 10-4 run that cut their lead to 23-20. A kill from Webb was a part of the final two points that helped the Wildcats grab a 25-21. 
 
Momentum carried into the third set for the Wildcats. They used a 9-4 run to gain an early lead. Julia Mellander and Swart had two kills each during that span. The Nanooks went on a 6-3 run that cut the Wildcat lead to 12-10. Diana Fa'amausili had a kill that helped the Wildcats go on a 6-3 run of their own that gave the team 18-13. The teams traded points as the Wildcats held a 21-18 lead. Analia Vasquez smashed home a kill that led to the Wildcats taking the set 25-21 while gaining a 2-1 match lead.
 
The fourth set was the most tightly contested of the match. Back and forth action flooded the early stages of the set as the score became tied at 10-10. The Nanooks exploded for a 7-2 run that gained them separation to the tune of a 17-12 lead. More even action filled the set as the Wildcats 21-16. A 4-2 run was enough for the Nanooks to take the set 25-18 and send the game to a deciding fifth set. 
 
The Nanooks jumped all over the Wildcats in the fifth set, bursting out to a 5-1 lead. The Wildcats responded by using their first timeout of the set. The timeout proved useful for the Wildcats as they went on an 8-1 run. Webb had two kills and an assisted block during the run. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the Nanooks went on a game-clinching 9-1 run that gave them a 15-9 set win. 
 
The Wildcats finished the match with four players in double figure kills. Swart led the Wildcats with 15 kills. She had a double-double for the Wildcats with 12 digs. Mellander had a strong offensive night, racking up 11 kills. Fa'amausili also added 11 kills to the Wildcat attack. Webb came through with 10 kills on a .250 hitting percentage. 
 
Gabrielle Aihara kept the Wildcat offense in rhythm, dishing out 48 assists on the afternoon. Aihara added 11 digs for a double-double. Morgan led the Wildcats with 29 digs. Sydney Remsberg chipped in with 10 digs of her own. 
 
The Wildcats return to Nicholson Pavilion on Tuesday when they host Northwest Nazarene at 7 p.m.