ELLENSBURG, Wash. - After spending their first 11 games on the road, the Central Washington University volleyball team returned home, but not their typical home. Spectators packed into the SURC to watch the Wildcats take down the MSU Billings 3-1 (25-22, 24-26, 25-18, 27-25).
 
"It was nice to finally play at home and the energy was amazing," Head Coach Mario Andaya said. "Feels different not to be in the PAV, but we fed off the crowd tonight."
 
Ashley Kaufman led the Wildcats with 24 kills, a career-high. Tia Andaya registered another double-double (12 kills, 29 assists) and was only four digs shy of a triple-double.
 
Abby Snethen led the 'Cats in blocks (5). Emma Daoud-Hebert tacked on nine kills and four blocks on the night. Sydney Remsberg had 22 assists. Hannah Stires led the team in digs (25).


 
The first set started close, with both teams tied early at 6-6. CWU went on a run, taking eight of the next 12 points to take a 14-10 lead. The Yellowjackets showed a lot of resilience throughout the match, cutting the Wildcat lead to 18-17.
 
The 'Cats took the next three points and refused to let MSUB get close. A pair of kills from Kaufman secured the first set for the Wildcats 25-22.
 
Looking to rebound from the first set, the Yellowjackets started hot in the second set as the Wildcats fell behind 9-15. The 'Cats clawed their way back into the set, and eventually leveled the score at 20-20 after kills from Kaufman and Daoud-Hebert.
 
The team traded points and CWU held a 23-22 lead. But that's when MSUB found their stride and took four of the next five points to win the set.
 
Early in the third set, MSUB had an early two-point lead. The 'Cats rattled off seven straight points, including three aces from Andaya, to take a 9-4 lead. They kept the pressure on and eventually expanded their lead to 20-12.
 
The Wildcats wouldn't let MSUB go on a run and the teams continued to trade points. A kill from Marianna Payne finished the set 25-18 in favor of the 'Cats.
 
In a nail-biting fourth set, both teams butted heads, treading points back and forth for the entirety of the set. In the waning moments of the set, the score was tied 23-23. Kaufman gave the 'Cats a lead at 24-23.
 
MSUB took the next two points as CWU fell behind 24-25. A block from Alyssa Smith and Daoud-Hebert tied it up at 25-25 and a Yellowjacket attack error put CWU in a spot to clinch the victory.
 
With everyone in the SURC on their feet, Andaya fired a rocket over the net from Remsberg, eluding the diving MSUB player and the Wildcats won the fourth and final set 27-25.
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"We missed a lot of serves and MSUB did some nice things to keep us off balance," Andaya said. "We stayed the course on offense, so it was nice to see us score while battling through some adversity. Good team win."
 
MSU Billings drops to 6-6, 0-5 in GNAC play. The Wildcats (8-4, 3-1) will take on the Seattle Pacific Falcons this Saturday, Sept. 24, in the SURC at 7:00 p.m.