BILLINGS, Mont.- The 15th-ranked Central Washington University Wildcat volleyball team (8-3, 2-1 GNAC) started off their short road trip with a three-set win over the Montana State University Billings Yellow Jackets (2-10, 0-3 GNAC) Thursday evening. The Wildcats won the sets by the scores of 25-18, 25-11, 25-15.
How It Happened
The Wildcats were led by Tia Andaya's double-double with 25 assists and 10 digs, she also added 8.5 points of her own and four aces. Scottie Ellsworth had herself a night leading the 'Cat stats with nine kills and 9.5 points. Brooke Garman had 7 points all by way of kill and Ashley Kaufman added 8 points for the Wildcats. Leading the 'Cats in blocks was Andaya's four, while Emma Daoud-Hebert had three of her own as well as 7.5 points and six kills. Hannah Stires brought the shovel on the road with 20 digs on the night.
Set 1
After locking up at two, the Wildcats would take an early lead on a pair of aces by Andaya putting CWU up 6-2. MSUB would bounce back with a quartet of kills to put the Yellow Jackets up 7-6. The 'Cats and Yellow Jackets would go back and forth with CWU having a pair of 3-0 runs to put the Wildcats up 18-14. Despite MSUB nabbing a few more points, the 'Cats would be set up for match point off a pair of kills and a block by Daoud-Hebert, 24-18. CWU would win the set off a ball handling error seeing the 'Cats win 25-18.
Set 2
A pair of kills by Garman would see the 'Cats take the early lead in the second set 4-2. MSUB would add a pair of points but the Wildcats pentagonal run, highlighted by Kaufman's pair of kills and block along with Stires' ace, put CWU up 10-4. The Yellow Jackets would snag a couple but another five straight points by the Wildcats would see the lead grow 16-6. The 'Cats would reach twenty off a kill by Ellsworth putting things at 20-8 in favor of CWU. Morgan Halady would set the 'Cats in motion to win with a kill followed by a Kaufman block to give CWU the 25-11 win.
Set 3
Locked at two again the Wildcats would add a hexagonal spot highlighted by a pair of Garman Kills and an Andaya ace, seeing CWU lead 8-2. A pair of three-straight points by the Wildcats would see a big block by Andaya and Daoud-Hebert grow the lead 16-7. A duet of kills by Garman and Daoud-Hebert brought the 'Cats to a 21-12 lead. A kill to start a three-point run would put CWU at set point but MSUB would add a couple more before Kaufman called game with the kill to win 25-15.
Coming Up
The Wildcats head west to Seattle to take on the Seattle Pacific Falcons (9-2, 3-0 GNAC) on Saturday afternoon with action set to begin at 2:00 p.m. Following the short road trip the Wildcats are back home next week with key conference matchups with CWU set to take on the Western Oregon Wolves on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and the Saint Martin's Saints on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
