BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The 2022 season for the Central Washington University volleyball team came to a close Friday evening as they fell to the Cal State LA Golden Eagles in straight sets (20-25, 15-25, 27-29).
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH MARIO ANDAYA
"Of course it's disappointing. It's disappointing how we came out in the first two sets and it's not from the effort, it never will be with this group. It's just executing a few things and being out of character a little bit. We knew what [Cal State LA] was capable of and they executed really well.
 
There are expectations for the program which is nice to have but it's always a difficult journey that we have to get ready for. We consistently put ourselves in positions to do something special so that's all we can ask and these kids did that this year so I'm super proud of them."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Eagles dominated the net throughout the match. They held the Wildcats to a .150 hitting percentage and logged 22 blocks in comparison to CWU's six.
 
Tia Andaya finished with five kills, 15 assists and six digs. Sydney Remsberg recorded a double-double (16 assists & 10 digs). Ashley Kaufman and Marianna Payne both logged seven kills each, a team high. Hannah Stires led the Wildcats in digs (12).
 
With a 7-4 lead in the first frame, CSLA rattled off seven straight points as the Wildcats fell behind 7-11. The Wildcats brought it back to 12-12 with a kill from Kylie Thorne but never saw the lead for the rest of the way and dropped the first set 20-25.
 
The momentum carried over for the Golden Eagles in the second set with the Wildcats finding themselves at a big deficit of 7-16. A Remsberg ace cut the CSLA lead to six at 14-20, but the Golden Eagles closed the second set convincingly.
 
The CWU offense seemed to find its groove in the third set, but it was a little too late. Both teams traded small runs for the majority of the third set. At 24-22, the Wildcats had two set points to force a fourth set but couldn't convert. The Golden Eagles closed it out as the 'Cats fell 27-29.