FAIRBANKS, Alaska - The #16 Central Washington University volleyball team had their four-game winning streak end Saturday, losing in four sets (25-20, 23-25, 18-25, 24-26) to Alaska Fairbanks.
 
Ashley Kaufman lit up the box score, tying a season-high with 16 kills and adding three blocks and five digs. Tia Andaya recorded eight kills, a team-high 36 assists, and eight digs. Morgan Halady also put up eight kills plus five blocks. Hannah Stires registered 20 digs.
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH MARIO ANDAYA
"UAF was the more physical team today and played very good defense. Their hitters capitalized in transition. We showed some heart and I loved our resiliency tonight. Unfortunately, that gets overshadowed by a loss, but I saw a team that wouldn't quit so we can be happy about that."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tied at 5-5 in the first set, the Wildcats would take a four-point run to gain momentum, highlighted by a pair of kills from Ellie Marble. UAF fought back, eventually tying it up at 20-20. The 'Cats would end the first set with a five-point streak, finished with a kill from Halady.
 
The Nanooks and Wildcats traded punches back and forth throughout the second set. Down 16-19, CWU went on a run, taking seven of the next eight points to take a 23-20 lead. Unfortunately, that was the last point the 'Cats would see in the second frame, as UAF took five straight and the set victory 23-25.
 
The Wildcats found themselves playing at a deficit in the third set, down 4-9. The team rallied back, taking a 17-15 lead, but that's when Nanooks would go on another convincing run. UAF only allowed one more CWU point, as the Wildcats lost 18-25.
 
CWU showed more resiliency by fighting back from an early deficit again in the fourth frame. The Wildcats were down 9-15, but tied it back up at 18-18 on a Kylie Thorne kill. The Crimson and Black would later take a two-point lead at 22-20 on a block from Kaufman and Halady. But, UAF would ultimately be the team to string points together, and CWU dropped the fourth set 24-26.
 
UP NEXT
Next week, the Wildcats (12-5, 6-3 GNAC) will return to Nicholson Arena for Homecoming weekend with matchups against #22 Seattle Pacific and Montana State Billings.