ELLENSBURG, Wash.—The Central Washington volleyball team will host Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage for a pair of conference matches in Nicholson Pavilion.
 
MATCH INFORMATION
Thursday, November 4^th
7:00 PM
Vs. Alaska Fairbanks  
Nicholson Pavilion
Ellensburg, WA
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS 
 
ALUMNI NIGHT
Saturday, November 6^th
7:00 PM
Vs. Alaska Anchorage
Nicholson Pavilion
Ellensburg, WA
WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS 
 
The 'Cats look to take down both of the Alaska schools at home after a tough trip to the final frontier earlier this season.
 
"Both schools present a big challenge for us heading into this week. We know they have the tools to throw us off balance and it's going to be a competitive matchup. We've been working hard all week to prepare for these games as we head into the final few weeks of conference play." Said CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya.
 
AGAINST ALASKA THIS SEASON
Earlier this season, the 'Cats ventured to Anchorage to begin their trip in the north. Against Anchorage the 'Cats fell in the fifth set, 15-10. The 'Cats had struggled offensively hitting only .101 but managed to take the second and third sets by a decent margin. After Anchorage the 'Cats moved over to Fairbanks where they fell to the Nanooks, 1-3.
 
Fairbanks is sitting just below the 'Cats in conference standings with a 7-6 conference record alongside a 14-11 overall record. As a team the Nanooks hit .177 percent and average 12.5 kills per set. Most notably the Nanooks have out-dug opponents 16.3 per set to an opposing 15.9. The offense is led by senior AveRee Reynolds. The outside hitter has 239 kills this season averaging 2.60 per set alongside 88 total blocks. Setting up the offense for the Nanooks is junior libero Dani Dodge. The defensive specialist has eclipsed 400 this season and averages 4.30 per set alongside 12 service aces.
 
Anchorage currently sits second in the GNAC with a 9-3 conference record, and 16-8 overall. The Seawolves offense leads the GNAC conference in opponent hitting percentage at .152 and service aces per set at 2.11. Leading the Seawolves offense is junior Eve Stephens. The 6' 1" right side hitter averages 3.81 kills per set and has 324 total this season. She also has 36 service aces, 191 digs and 62 total blocks. Behind Stephens sits junior Talia Leauanae. The junior defensive specialist and libero has 326 digs averaging 3.84 per set putting her 10^th in the conference in digs. Leauanae leads the GNAC conference in service aces with 43, averaging 0.51 per set.
 
DOMINANCE IN NICHOLSON
The 'Cats are sitting 11-7 overall and 7-5 in the GNAC conference. The 'Cats return to Nicholson this week sporting an 8-0 record at home this season. As a team the 'Cats average 12.1 kills per set alongside 11.5 assists per set. On the defensive side the 'Cats put up 15.1 digs and 2.5 blocks per set.
 
Leading the 'Cats offense is sophomore Ashley Kaufman. The outside hitter has been the 'Cats kill leader most of the season with 201 total on a 2.96 per set average. Kaufman also has 14 service aces alongside 163 digs and 18 blocks making her a key element anywhere on the court for the 'Cats. Behind Kaufman sits two of the GNAC individual leaders in Hannah Stires and Emma Daoud-Hebert.
 
Hannah Stires leads the GNAC conference in digs with 327 total on a 4.81 per set average. At the net sits GNAC block leader Emma Daoud-Hebert. The middle blocker has 59 total and a 1.40 per set average since solidifying her spot in the rotation.