SEATTLE- The 15th-ranked Central Washington University Wildcat volleyball team (8-4, 2-2 GNAC) traveled west to face the Seattle Pacific University Falcons (10-2, 4-0 GNAC)
Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats fought hard but ultimately fell short in a five-set thriller with the Falcons (25-12, 23-25, 16-25, 25-14, 16-18). Fifth year outside hitter Ashley Kaufman achieved 1,000 career kills with her third kill of the day.
QUOTABLE
"It was a typical battle with SPU, hard fought, and exciting rallies," CWU Head Volleyball Coach Mario Andaya said. "We had some break downs that cost us set two and then let set three get away from us. SPU did a nice job at the end of the fifth and we failed to convert. We had some nice good highlights with AK getting her 1,000th kill, Tia having a non-traditional triple-double (46 assists, 10 blocks, 15 digs), and Brooke having a breakout game in her first college starts this weekend. Ashley is the definition of hard work, and resiliency, so I am happy she's continuing to leave her legacy. It will be good to be at home for a few weeks, so we ned to get rested up and build off of some nice things we saw this weekend."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wildcats came out of the gates hot, winning the first and also the fourth set to force a fifth set but fell just short. Brooke Garman led the 'Cats in points and kills with 17 points and 16 kills. Ashley Kaufman had an impressive day, besides achieving 1,000 career kills, with 14.5 points, 12 kills, and two aces. Scottie Ellsworth rounded out the 'Cat stats offensively with 14 points and 13 kills. Tia Andaya set the Wildcats up nicely with 46 assists, while also adding 10.5 points and leading CWU with 10 blocks. Hannah Stires had 27 digs for the 'Cats.
SET 1
The 'Cats and Falcons would trade kills with SPU grabbing the early lead 3-2. The Wildcats would take their first lead off an ace by Kylie Thorne and add another off a Stires kill, putting CWU up 6-3. The Wildcats would add five-points with three coming off kills to grow their lead 12-5. SPU would add another point off a kill but CWU answered with an octet of points to get ahead 20-6. Trading back and forth points, the 'Cats would reach set point with the help of a pair of kills by Garman, 24-10. The Falcons would add a couple but the 'Cats would wind up winning set one 25-12 off an attack error.
SET 2
Trading blocks to start the second set, SPU would take the early lead 2-1. Alternating points, the 'Cats would trail 6-4 before a pair of CWU kills enroute a four-point run would give the Wildcats their first lead 8-6. Giving one back to the Falcons, the 'Cats would add another quartet growing their lead 12-7. Adding their own four-point run the Falcons would close CWUs lead to one at 12-11. Trading points again the Wildcats would grow their lead 16-14 before SPU would add a pair of kills and an ace to give the Falcons the lead 17-16. Teeter tottering, the 'Cats would trail 21-20 before adding a trio of points to get the lead back 23-21. SPU would add 3 kills on their way to winning the set on straight points 25-23.
SET 3
The third set would open with the teams locking up at four all before SPU would add a pair of kills and an ace combined with a CWU error to get the lead 8-4. The 'Cats were able to close in but still trailed 12-9 when the Falcons would go on a run to increase their lead 16-9. Adding a trio of kills, Ellsworth would help bring the Wildcats back but still trailed 16-13. CWU was able to add a trio of points and interrupt a SPU run but saw the Falcons take a match lead, winning 25-16.
SET 4
Opening the fourth set the Wildcats and Falcons would tether at two, with CWU grabbing the 5-4 lead. SPU would add three to retake the lead at 7-5, but two errors on the Flacons helped CWU tie up at 7-7. A Falcon kill would lock things up at ten all before the 'Cats added a ninefold to take the commanding lead 19-10. SPU would snag a couple points but Kaufman would seal the deal on a pair of kills and an ace helping CWU win the set 25-14.
SET 5
With it all down to the fifth set the Wildcats would come out hot with a pair of blocks and kills to lead 4-0. SPU would add three but a duo by the 'Cats would keep the lead 6-3. Three 'Cat errors put CWU down 8-7. A Wildcat kill and block would give CWU the 9-8 lead, but SPU would add a pair of kills to take the lead back 11-9. The Falcons would add a couple but the Wildcats back-to-back kills would see things tied up once again, this time at 13. A service error would put SPU at set point but Garman's clutch kills would keep CWU alive 15-15. After a falcon kill, Kaufman would answer with one of her own, before SPU would answer with a kill and ace to give the Falcons the 18-16 win.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Wildcats come home for a pair of conference matchups next week against Western Oregon University and Saint Martin's University. Western Oregon will come to town Thursday with action set to begin at 7:00 p.m. and Saint Martins will be here Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. start time in Ellensburg.
