ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University volleyball team swept Saint Martin's University (0-13, 0-4), 3-0, by set scores of 25-15, 25-13, 25-18.
 
Ashley Kaufman and Bridgette Webb led the Wildcats (8-4, 3-1) with nine kills each, while Makala Swart and Diana Fa'amausili amassed eight kills each.  Central finished with a hitting percentage of .381.
 
Central nabbed the first two points of the match thanks to Swart and Webb.  The pair teamed up for a block to open set one, followed by a kill from Swart for a 2-0 early lead.  After a kill from Saint Martin's Mackenzie Carter and a pair of Wildcat attack errors, the Saints took their first lead at 3-2.
 
A kill from Webb levelled the score 3-3 in the early going.  She then recorded a service ace, which was followed by a block from Julia Mellander and Fa'amausili allowing Central to retake the lead at 5-3.
 
The Crimson and Black recorded an 8-2 run to stake out a 13-5 lead.  Saint Martin's recorded a 3-0 run, shortening their deficit to 13-8.  Central Washington negated the Saints' run with three consecutive points of their own to extend the lead back to eight, 16-8.
 
With the score at 18-9, Central and Saint Martin's traded points for the next 12 points to bring the Wildcats' advantage to 24-15.  A ball handling error from the Saints finalized set one in favor of CWU, 25-15.
 
Saint Martin's took the first three points of set two.  A kill from Webb halted the Saints' run and sent Swart back to serve for CWU.  After an attack error from SMU made it 3-2, in favor of Saint Martin's, Webb and Gabrielle Aihara combined for a block to level the score.  Kaufman laced a kill on a set from libero Kyla Morgan, giving Central their first lead of set two at 4-3.
 
The Wildcats continued to put together consecutive points, recording at least two points consecutively nine times throughout the second set.  Central outpaced SMU 25-10 after the first three points of the set, taking the middle stanza 25-13.
 
"Our flow was really nice," Aihara said afterward.  "We really played more as a team rather than as individuals.  I'm super proud of our middles.  We wanted to get them involved on attacks to open up our pins."
 
Once again Central picked up points in bunches during the third set, recording two or more consecutive points eight times.  The Wildcats recorded an 8-5 advantage before Saint Martin's mounted a run of their own.  The Saints brought the score back to 9-9, but a kill from Mellander ended SMU's momentum.  Webb recorded the next kill for Central, making it 11-9 in favor of the 'Cats.  
 
After a kill from SMU's Tianah Sanders, the Wildcats ran off six consecutive points.  Webb and Aihara started the run with a block, followed by a kill from Swart.  A Saints' attack error was promptly followed with a pair of kills from Webb, and one from Fa'amausili, gave Central a 17-10 lead.  
 
Carter was able to stymie CWU's run for Saint Martin's, but the halt didn't last long.  The Crimson and Black recorded the next three points, as Webb and Kaufman recorded a block which was bookended by kills from the pair for a 20-11 lead.
 
The Wildcats closed the match on a 3-0 run with kills from Mellander, Laynie Erickson, and Swart.
 
"We played well as a team defensively," CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya noted.  "I really like how poised we were and we were in position to get good reads.  When we do that, we really get defenders and playmakers that can create of keep things simple.  It allows us to get right into our offense.  I thought our middles were active, they have been the last couple matches.  It keeps the pressure on the outsides and allows them to hit at a better clip.  Mikayla hit .460 and Ashley [Kaufman] hit .360 for kills, so that's big.  Your outsides can hit that number because your middles are active and your offense is doing well."
 
Aihara amassed 30 assists on the afternoon.  Swart led the Wildcats defensively with 15 digs.  She added one block to her total as well.  Webb sat atop the box score in blocks with four.  Central was 11-15 in sideout opportunities in the first set, converting at a clip of 73 percent.  
 
"Two wins in the GNAC, we'll take that every week," Andaya added.  "Especially when you have to defend your home court.  The crowd has been great.  The noon start too, I think it's good for our community to come out and watch.  Overall, we got two big wins and those two wins help us move forward."
 
Central Washington is back in action on Thursday (Oct. 3) as the Wildcats travel to Alaska Anchorage for a GNAC matchup.  First serve is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. PT.