ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University volleyball team fell to the #10 Western Washington University Vikings in a five-set grudge match on Saturday (24-26, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 14-16).
The 'Cats were led by
Ashley Kaufman,
Kylie Thorne, and
Tia Andaya. Kaufman had 18 kills and 18 digs. Thorne had 15 kills, 22 digs, and three aces. Andaya had nine kills, three aces, and 29 assists.
Defensively,
Emma Daoud-Hebert had massive performance with eight blocks and ten kills.
Sydney Remsberg led the team in assists (32).
Marianna Payne put together a 12-kill performance.
The Wildcats lost the first set with a final score of 24-26. The 'Cats jumped out to an early lead of 9-3 but ultimately fell just short. CWU finished the first set with 14 kills, two service aces, and had four blocks.
WWU came away with the victory in a back-and-forth second set. Western started 4-0 but a pair of kills by Thorne and Kaufman got the 'Cats back into it 4-3. Neither team got ahead by more than two points until it was tied at 23-23. The Vikings got two kills to seal the set.
With it all on the line the 'Cats fought back and take the third set 25-19, making it 1-2 going into the fourth set. Two kills by Andaya and a block by Thorne and
Alyssa Smith sealed the win for Central. The 'Cats finished the third set with 12 kills, two aces, and three blocks on a .250 hitting percentage for the 'Cats.
The fight continued in the fourth set with the Wildcats jumping out to an 8-4 lead. The 'Cats evened things up forcing a fifth set after taking the fourth 25-20. A little fight back from the Vikings made it 11-13 but Kaufman and Daoud-Hebert weren't having any of it. The pair combined for three kills to set the 'Cats up 19-14. Thorne scored three kills paired with a block by Daoud-Herbert and Andaya gave the 'Cats the set win.
There was no quit in these 'Cats. Central trailed early following five unanswered WWU points making it 5-10. Three kills by Kaufman and block by Andaya and Smith make it 10-11. A pair of kills by Thorne tied it 14-14 but the 'Cats fell short with a final score of 14-16.
After today's match, the 'Cats sit at 14-9, 9-6. They're set for 2 games in Alaska before returning home to end the regular season. The Wildcats will face Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday Nov. 3
rd and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday Nov. 5
th.