MONMOUTH, Ore. - With her seventh dig of today's contest, Ashley Kaufman of the Central Washington University volleyball team reached the 1,000-career dig milestone as the #20 Wildcats swept Western Oregon (30-28, 29-27, 25-22).
 
NOTABLE STATS
Kaufman tied her season-high with 12 total digs on her way to surpassing the 1,000-career dig mark. Kylie Thorne and Ellie Marble led the team in kills with 10 each, while both tallied seven digs as well.
 
Tia Andaya put up a team-leading 22 assists, while Kate Stidham registered 12 assists and a team-high 16 digs. Andaya had a massive day at the net as well with nine total blocks, followed by Halady with seven. Emma Daoud-Hebert recorded an additional five blocks as the Wildcats recorded 26 total blocks in comparison to Western Oregon's nine.
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH MARIO ANDAYA
"It's fitting AK got her 1,000th dig when our defense was key tonight. We had some relentless defensive play to keep us in each set and AK was clutch. To get 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career is rare and we are all happy for her. Our blockers added some much-needed points for us as well so it was great to see us find numerous ways to be successful."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wildcats started out quite slow in the first set, falling down 3-10 before a kill from Halady stopped the Western Oregon run. The Crimson and Black would start to climb back, and a block from Halady and Daoud-Hebert tied the set at 14-14.
 
Both sides continued to take small runs. At 24-22, the Wildcats had multiple opportunities to clinch the set, but the Wolves responded, forcing bonus volleyball. After a Daoud-Hebert kill tied it up at 28-28, Stidham subbed in to serve. The Wildcat defense led WOU into back-to-back attack errors, including a set-winning block from Daoud-Hebert and Andaya to take the first frame 30-28.
 
The Wolves and Wildcats kept it tight in the early portion of the second set. Up 7-6, the 'Cats went on a six-point run to force WOU to use their first timeout. Momentum continued to build as Daoud-Hebert throttled a kill past Western Oregon's blockers to put the Wildcats up 16-8.
 
Western Oregon halted the CWU's run with seven straight points of their own. Once again at 24-22, the Wildcats failed to convert a multiple set point chances and a pair of WOU kills made it 24-24. But, just like the first set, attack errors on the Wolves gifted the set win for the 'Cats 29-27.
 
Both teams went back-and-forth in the early portion of the third set. Down 10-7, the Wildcats continued to force errors from the Wolves to tie it at 10-10. The Wolves got hot, going on a run as CWU fell behind 11-17.
 
Down 16-20, the 'Cats would take control with a six-point run of their own to make it 22-20. Up 23-22, the Wolves were initially awarded a point to tie it up at 23 apiece. But, Coach Andaya used a challenge card, overturning the ruling to push the Wildcats to set point. A kill from Marble iced the third set and the game 25-22.
 
UP NEXT
The #20 Wildcats jump to 15-6, 9-4 GNAC and will be in sole possession of 2nd place in the GNAC standings at the end of the day. The 'Cats will have next Thursday off and travel to Northwest Nazarene for showdown with the Nighthawks next Saturday, Nov. 4, at 12:00 p.m.