ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University volleyball team hosted No. 6 Western Washington in front of a rowdy crowd in Nicholson Pavilion. The Wildcats couldn't overcome the blocking ability of the Vikings, falling 3-0 (19-25, 26-28, 20-25) on Thursday night. 
 
The Wildcats (17-10, 12-7 GNAC) entered Thursday's match with the Vikings (25-2, 17-2 GNAC) knowing they'd have to overcome the best block in the nation. The Vikings entered the contest averaging 2.92 blocks per set. The Vikings had 11 blocks against the Wildcats and were able to hold the team to 34 kills and a .094 hitting percentage.    
 
"I don't think we came out ball-control wise like we should have," CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya said. "Western was in system a lot. More than we were in system. That led to them being able to run their middles, and that is pretty much their offense. We matched the outside hitting production, but we couldn't really get all three of our hitters going at once and they did."
 
The opening set was even for a brief moment as the score landed on 3-3. The Vikings scored five consecutive points to take an 8-3 lead. The Wildcats aimed to cut into the Viking lead, as the teams traded points, leading to a 10-7 Viking advantage. 
 
From there, the Vikings were able to pull away from the Wildcats. An 8-1 run led to an 18-8 lead for the visitors. The Wildcats didn't go away quietly, as a kill from Bridgette Webb sparked a strong 7-2 run for the Wildcats. Sydney Remsberg had an ace, while Sierra Sharma and Ashley Kaufman added a kill apiece during that span. The run aided the Wildcats in cutting the Viking lead to 22-17. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the Vikings found the final points they needed and took the set 25-19. 
 
After withstanding a short 4-1 run from the Vikings to open the second set, the Wildcats were relentless in gaining an advantage. They'd score eight straight points to take a 9-4 lead. The run came when Isabelle Jacob stepped to the service line. Jacob followed a service error from the Vikings with two straight aces of her own. She'd total three aces during the 8-0 run. 
 
Later the set, the Wildcats led the Vikings 13-10. The Vikings ripped off a 9-1 run that gave them a 19-14 lead. The Wildcats answered with a 9-2 run that included two separate 4-0 runs. The first 4-0 run came with Jacob at the service line. She cashed in for another ace, her fourth of the set. By the end of the 9-2 run, the Wildcats led 23-21. 
 
The Wildcats were two points away from ending the second set, but the Vikings had other plans. They scored three consecutive points to take a late 24-23 lead. From there, the two teams traded points until the set score was tied at 26. Preseason Conference Player of the Year favorite Kayleigh Harper came up clutch for the Vikings, recording the final two kills of the second set. The Vikings took it 28-26 and advanced their match lead to 2-0.
 
"I thought we served them tough," Coach Andaya added. "They had some trouble with their serve receive. We got them stuck in a rotation. Once we got a four- or five-point lead, we turned around and got stuck in a rotation, which costed us. It came down to who would get a better swing at the end, and they did." 
 
The Vikings opened the third set with a 10-4 run. The Wildcats mustered a 5-2 run, highlighted by kills from Makala Swart and Lexi Schamadan. The run resulted in the Wildcats trailing the Vikings 12-9. 
 
The Vikings mounted a 6-2 run that extended their third set lead to 18-11. The teams traded 4-1 runs as the score landed on 23-17 in favor of the visitors. The Wildcats were unable to come back, as the Vikings took the third set 25-20. The Wildcats finished the third set with a better hitting percentage than the Vikings. The Wildcats hit .154 while holding the Vikings to a .145 hitting percentage.  
 
Swart finished the match with a double-double. She led the team with 12 kills while adding 12 digs. Swart was the only Wildcat to finish in double-figure kills. Webb put together the next-best offensive performance. The senior out of Yakima, Washington had six kills on a .200 hitting percentage. 
 
Defensively, Julia Mellander had a strong night for the Wildcats. She had four total blocks, one of which came on the solo effort. Sharma was also strong at the net. She had three total blocks, including two assisted blocks. Kyla Morgan led the squad with 21 digs. 
 
The Wildcats close out their regular season against Simon Fraser on Saturday at 7 p.m. Prior to first serve, three seniors will be celebrated for their contributions to the Wildcat volleyball program. 
 
"We have to learn from this one," Coach Andaya said. "There are some things we have to apply going into the match against Simon Fraser. It's a big game for us. We don't know what the regional implication for us is right now, but we know that we want to go out with our seniors on a good note. If we make it to the tournament, we'll see what happens from there."