Wildcats Take on Rivals Vikings and Red Leafs to Open Home Action

ELLENSBURG, Wash.- The 13^th-ranked Central Washington University Wildcat volleyball team (6-2) is set to face off with GNAC and state rival, the Western Washington University Vikings (0-8) this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. The Wildcats conclude their opening home weekend with a battle against the only NCAA team in Canada, the Simon Fraser Red Leafs (5-3) this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Both matches will be played in the Student Union and Recreation Center (SURC) on CWU's campus.

LINKS

Live Stats: HERE
Watch: HERE
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THE 'CAT STATS

The Wildcats are off to a hot start to the 2023 season with a 6-2 record on top of being ranked 13th in the AVCA poll. CWU has so far defeated four ranked teams this season with three of them being from the top-10. Central started its season going 2-2 in the Yotes Classic Showcase before sweeping the Up North Preseason Tournament 4-0, putting the 'Cats on a six-game winning streak heading into conference play.

OFFENSE

The Wildcats have been led by Scottie Ellsoworth who's accumulated 89 points with 79 coming as kills, Tia Andaya leads the 'Cats with 254 assists and is tied with Ashley Kaufman with 11 aces on the season. Kaufman has already started another great season with 84.5 points and 71 kills. Kylie Thorne has also been off to a hot start with 87.5 points, 77 kills, and four aces.

DEFENSE

Leading the way Emma Daoud-Hebert continues to be a brick wall with her 43 blocks this season. Hannah Stires has moved some serious dirt this year with 126 digs. The Wildcats have maintained 14.5 more blocks on the season compared to their opponents.

SCOUTING THE VIKINGS

WWU is off to an 0-8 start to the 2023 season following a 2022 season which saw the Vikings finish 21-6, being eliminated from 2022 NCAA Tournament West Regional first round by yours truly, CWU. The Vikings are looking to improve on the young season which has 12 new faces following Western's eight seniors that graduated last year. Western Washington has won four of the last five GNAC volleyball titles and has head coach Diane Flick-Williams returning for a 24th season. The Vikings were picked to finish second in the GNAC poll this year after finishing second in conference last year with a 16-2 conference record.

OFFENSE

The Vikings are led by Sophomore Devyn Oestreitch with 76.5 points, 12 aces, and 59 kills, while Delaney Speer is someone to lookout for with 64.5 points and 53 kills. Adele Holland leads WWU with 148 assists for the Vikings.

DEFENSE

Redshirt Freshman Emily Vossenkuhl leads from the middle blocker position with 29 blocks for the Vikings while Oestreich (59) and Speer (56) lead the way through the trenches in digs.

SCOUTING THE RED LEAFS

SFU is off to a 5-3 start to the season after posting a 10-8 GNAC record and a 13-14 overall record last season. The Red Leafs went 3-1 at the Hawaii Challenge hosted by Chaminade and Hawaii Pacific. SFU wrapped up their nonconference action at the APU/CPP Invitational where they went 2-2 and played their sole ranked opponent of the season in the 24^th-ranked Cal Poly Pomona Broncos which they fell 3-0. The Red Leafs are looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament this year after making it in the 2021 season in which they fell in the first round to WWU 3-1. Head Coach Gina Schmidt is in her 11^th season guiding the Red Leafs to their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016.

OFFENSE

SFU has been led by the duo of Sophie Lachapelle and Jocelyn Sherman who have 108 and 94 kills already in the season, respectively. Eva Person has been the primary setter for SFU already accumulating 250 assists to pair with her nine service aces. The Red Leafs have been stellar from the serving line having 55 aces already on the season, led by Macyn Unger with 14 while Sherman and Hannah Kolof along with Person have nine aces apiece.

DEFENSE

The Red Leafs currently have 442 digs on the season with Unger leading the ground work with 103. Kalyn Hartmann and Ezawa Malish have been the leading blockers for SFU with 25 and 22 blocks on the season. Hartmann also has six solo blocks to her name so far.

UP NEXT

The Wildcats will take to the road next weekend in their first GNAC road showdowns, first on Thursday, September 21^st at 6:00 p.m. taking place at Montana State Billings (2-6). The Wildcats will head back to the Evergreen State to take on the Falcons of Seattle Pacific (6-2) at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 23^rd.

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Players Mentioned

#16 Emma Daoud-Hebert: MB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore; Washington Volleyball Academy

#19 Ashley Kaufman: OH; 5' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore; Splash

#13 Hannah Stires: DS/L; 5' 5"; Sophomore; T3 Black

#20 Kylie Thorne: OH; 5' 11"; Sophomore; Shockwave Volleyball Club

#1 Tia Andaya: S/OH; 5' 9"; Junior; Central Region United

Players Mentioned

#16 Emma Daoud-Hebert
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore; Washington Volleyball Academy
: MB

#19 Ashley Kaufman
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore; Splash
: OH

#13 Hannah Stires
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; T3 Black
: DS/L

#20 Kylie Thorne
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Shockwave Volleyball Club
: OH

#1 Tia Andaya
: 5' 9"; Junior; Central Region United
: S/OH