ELLENSBURG, Wash.—The Central Washington volleyball team travels to Nampa to take on the Nighthawks from Northwest Nazarene in a lone match this week.

MATCH INFORMATION
Saturday, October 30^th
12:00 PM PST
Vs. Northwest Nazarene
Johnson Sports Center
Nampa, ID
WATCH | LIVE STATS

As the second half of conference play begins to unfold, the Wildcats look to pickup a big win to remain in regional standings.

"Every match in GNAC play is important. With only one game this week, we've really worked hard in practice to improve where we can be more efficient on the court. NNU will find ways to compete, and we'll need to answer." CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya said.

PREVIOUSLY THIS SEASON & THE NIGHTHAWKS
The Nighthawks currently sit ninth in the GNAC with a 5-14 overall record and 2-9 in conference play. Previously this season, the Wildcats held off the Nighthawks in a five-set thriller in Nicholson, winning the final set 15-13. In the previous matchup, the Wildcats only hit .173 alongside 31 errors.

The Nighthawks hit .181 alongside a 12.1 kill per set average. The Nighthawks sit second in the GNAC in digs averaging 17.50 per set. Leading the Nighthawks offense is redshirt junior Natalie Sullivan. The six-foot outside hitter has 276 kills this season alongside 14 service aces, 185 digs and 16 blocks. Sullivan led the Nighthawks in their last matchup against the 'Cats with 14 kills, 10 digs, and 5 blocks.

Leading the defense for the Nighthawks is sophomore Caroline McMahon. The libero has 322 total digs this season averaging 4.47 per set. With only 21 receiving errors all season, she sports a strong .933 reception percentage. In the last matchup McMahon posted 23 digs alongside a single service ace and kill.

THE WILDCATS THIS SEASON
The 'Cats are sitting fifth in the GNAC with a 10-7 overall record, and 6-5 in conference play. The 'Cats as a team average 12.0 kills per set alongside hitting .194. The setting duo of Sydney Remsberg and Tia Andaya helps the 'Cats average 11.4 assists per set. Tia Andaya leads the 'Cats with 319 assists this season, a 4.98 average. She also averages 2.13 kills per set, 2.34 digs per set, and has 37 blocks alongside 19 service aces. Sydney Remsberg is just behind with 313 assists this season and a 4.89 average. Remsberg averages 1.95 digs per set but also leads the team with 21 service aces.

The 'Cats have a duo of heavy hitters in Ashley Kaufman and Marianna Payne. Kaufman, the sophomore from Idaho, leads the team with 188 kills averaging 2.94 per set. She has made herself an instrumental part of the back row averaging 2.44 digs per set with 156 on the season. Kaufman also has 18 blocks and 13 service aces. Payne, the freshman from Camas, WA, is just behind Kaufman with 180 total kills this season averaging 3.22 per set. Payne also posts a strong 51 blocks this season.

Hannah Stires leads the Wildcats and the GNAC conference in digs with 307 total and a 4.80 per set average. Stires also has 17 service aces. In front for the defense is GNAC block-leader Emma Daoud-Hebert. The freshman from Woodenville has only recently played in 38 of the 'Cats 64 total sets and has posted 56 total blocks.