ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Central Washington University volleyball team erased a 13-point deficit in the third set Thursday night, clinching a 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 27-25) sweep over Alaska Anchorage. The win extends the Wildcats GNAC-leading win streak to four games.
 
Ellie Marble continued to exceed, leading the team with 14 kills, multiple of which came at the end of sets. Scottie Ellsworth ended up with eight kills, and Emma Daoud-Hebert was a force at the net, finishing with eight kills and six total blocks.
 
Tia Andaya recorded yet another double-double with 36 assists and 11 digs. Hannah Stires led the team with 21 digs and added five assists.
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH MARIO ANDAYA
"The team battled all match and we found a way. Even after set two, we knew we still didn't have a great rhythm and UAA took it to us right away in set three. Credit our players for continuing to compete and finding the right mix to climb back in that set and steal it. It was an incredible moment for sure."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first set, the hosts would take an early four-point lead, but the Wildcats eventually knotted the score at 9-9 with an ace from Daoud-Hebert. Both sides would trade points back and forth up to 18-18, where the 'Cats would take a four-point run thanks to a pair of Marble kills. UAA would make it close, but a Marble kill from Andaya clinched the first set 25-23.
 
Both sides went back and forth in the second set. If one team strung a couple points together, the other would respond. It would be another four-point run to set CWU apart in the second frame at 18-14, but the Seawolves fought back, tying it up at 19 apiece. This time, the Wildcats wouldn't let up, taking the second set 25-21. Marble would earn her second set-clinching kill.
 
The third set got off to a nightmare start as the Wildcats fell behind 0-9. The Seawolves wouldn't lighten up, growing the deficit to 4-17. That's when it finally started to click for the 'Cats.
 
CWU would take nine of the next 10, cutting the lead to five points. The momentum would continue, eventually tying it at 23 each. Marble and Ellsworth would come up with the clutch plays, clinching the massive third-set comeback 27-25.
 
UP NEXT
The #16 Wildcats are the hottest team in the conference, advancing to 16-4, 6-2 GNAC. The team will turn their attention to a Saturday showdown at Alaska Fairbanks (9-13, 2-6 GNAC) at 3:00 p.m.