BELLINGHAM, Wash.— The Central Washington volleyball team rallied behind freshman Marianna Payne to pick up their first win of the regular season against the Sonoma State Seawolves, three sets to one.

THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH MARIO ANDAYA
"Our passers were resilient against a very tough serving team. I thought we also served, block and defended very well which helped us create points. Offensively our pin hitters grinded, but our middle attack way the key, setters did a good job finding them."

WILDCATS CLAW DOWN THE SEAWOLVES
The Wildcats started off slow and steady in the first set. Leanna Shymanski landed the opening kill for the 'Cats and they trailed early, 2-1.

The Wildcats found their groove when an attack error by the Seawolves kicked off an eleven-point scoring run that had two kills by Kylee Yamashita and a single from Marianna Payne, Ashley Kaufman, and Leanna Shymanski. The 'Cats had extended their lead 22-14.

The Seawolves landed a few kills to battle back, but Marianna Payne and Ashley Kaufman landed the back-to-back finishing kills. The 'Cats took set one, 25-18.

The crimson and black kept the momentum rolling early on in set two as they took an early lead 6-3 on another set of back-to-back kills from Ashley Kaufman and Marianna Payne.
The Seawolves found momentum with a pair of a kills from Brooklyn Jackson. The Wildcats were forced to take a timeout and trailed 13-10.

Kills by Kylee Yamashita and Sydney Remsburg gave the 'Cats life, but ultimately they dropped set two to the Seawolves, 25-18.

In set three the 'Cats came out strong taking an early lead 6-3 after a service error by the Seawolves.

Leanna Shymanski put her power on display as she landed three-straight kills to force the Seawolves into a timeout and extend the 'Cats lead 12-7. The 'Cats continued to roll through the Seawolves defense and Ashley Kaufman put up her 8^th kill to send it to match point. An attack error by the Seawolves closed the curtain on set three, the 'Cats won it 25-14.

Once again, the crimson and black were out to an early lead in the fourth set. Marianna Payne picked up her 14^th kill of the night to end the 'Cats scoring streak putting them out in front, 15-7.
 Tia Andaya landed a kill that wound up giving the Wildcats the largest lead in a single set at the Invitational so far, 19-9.

The offense kept swinging and slammed the door shut on the Seawolves, taking the set 25-20 and securing the first win for the Wildcats.

Marianna Payne finished with 16 kills, one shy of tying last nights season high 17. Ashley Kaufman had 9 kills and 14 digs. Kylee Yamashita finished with 7 kills and 9 blocks. Hannah Stires led the defense with 23 digs. As a team the Wildcats hit .246.