ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The Central Washington University volleyball team will visit Saint Martin's and Western Oregon this weekend, looking to repeat results from earlier in the conference schedule where the Wildcats earned sweeps over both teams.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Thursday, Oct. 26, 7:00 p.m.
at Saint Martin's
Marcus Pavilion
Lacey, Wash.
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LIVE STATS
 
Saturday, Oct. 28, 1:00 p.m.
at Western Oregon
New PE Building
Monmouth, Ore.
WATCH
LIVE STATS
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH MARIO ANDAYA
"Both SMU and WOU have some of the best players in the conference and we had some heated exchanges with each team a few weeks ago. We are preparing for a battle. Our preparation is key to ensure we are ready to compete with each of them, this time at their place."
 
ABOUT THE SAINTS
The Wildcats will travel to Marcus Pavilion to face a Saints team that currently sits 5th in the conference standings (13-7, 6-4 GNAC). SMU is led by fourth-year head coach Dan Behnke and most recently defeated Western Oregon in four sets last Saturday.
 
Freshmen outside hitter Emily Garten continues to make a massive impact for the Saints in her first year, leading the team and ranking 3rd in the GNAC in kills per set (3.23). SMU also has the GNAC's leading setter, Karla Soto, who records 10.24 assists per frame.
 
Abigail Halstead is the team's leader in digs with 262, followed by Sirena Peredo (232) and Soto (177). Maddy Gooding is the Saints' top blocker with 63 on the year.
 
Back on Sept. 30, the Wildcats beat Saint Martin's in straight sets, holding the Saints to a .111 attacking percentage, forcing 21 attacks errors. Ashley Kaufman stuffed the box score with 15 kills, along with 12 kills and five blocks from Scottie Ellsworth.
 
Central Washington leads the all-time series between the sides 41-2, including a current 10-game winning streak dating back to Nov. 2017.
 
ABOUT THE WOLVES
WOU is led by second-year Head Coach Kaiao Nahale-a, who has the Wolves at 8-10, 2-8 GNAC.
 
Junior outside hitter Madison Hornback is a difference maker for the Wolves, leading the team with 3.16 kills per set, a number that ranks 4th in the GNAC. She's also second on the team in digs per frame (2.89). Laney O'Neil and Kealani Rosa split the setting responsibilities for WOU.
 
Sophie Matlock is the Wolves' leader in digs, checkin in at 3.55 per frame. At the net, it's Bella MacLellan with just under one block per set, followed by Chloe Asciutto (0.83).
 
On Sept. 28, the Wildcats earned a sweep of the Wolves (25-22, 25-15, 25-20), led by 15 kills from Ellsworth and 11 from Ellie Marble. Tia Andaya recorded a double-double with 30 assists and 14 digs, along with seven kills.
 
Central Washington leads the all-time series against the Wolves 34-10, including a current 13-game winning streak dating back to Nov. 2016.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Last weekend started with a ranked showdown between against the GNAC-leading Seattle Pacific Falcons and the Wildcats, with SPU earning their second five-win victory over CWU this year (14-25, 25-14, 22-25, 25-21, 7-15). The Wildcats were held to a .177 attacking percentage, although Ellsworth put up a team-leading 15 kills. Emma Daoud-Hebert had an efficient evening, recording 13 kills on 19 attacks and adding six blocks.
 
The Wildcats responded decisively with a sweep of Montana State Billings on Homecoming Saturday (25-13, 25-16, 25-8) in front of a large crowd at Nicholson Arena.  It was the Marble show as she led the 'Cats with 14 kills and three service aces. Four more Wildcats registered five or more kills.
 
The team's weekend split dropped them to #20 in the weekly AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Coaches Poll, while Seattle Pacific jumped the Wildcats to #19.