LACEY, Wash. - The Central Washington Wildcats volleyball team (4-4, 2-0 GNAC) rolled in Lacey, Wash and closed out the opening road trip of GNAC play Saturday, sweeping the Saint Martin's University Saints (3-7, 1-1 GNAC) 3-0. 
 
Quoting Head Coach Mario Andaya 
"I felt we got better this weekend. We were able to sustain offense, but defensively we saw the game better and a lot of plays. Our middles, Mo [Halady] and Emma [Daoud-Hebert], continue to be very efficient and were key all weekend. Han [Stires], Ellie [Marble], Ash [McMahon], and Mod [Payne] grinded in serving and receiving against a tough serving team. Good weekend." 
 
How It Happened 
The Wildcats won the threes by scores of 25-18 (Set One), 25-18 (Set Two), and 25-23 (Set Three). The first two sets saw each team get an early lead, but Central would capitalize on chances in both sets to earn the win. Set three was more competitive with both teams battling until the end when CWU beat the Saints by two to win the match.  

The 'Cats saw a strong group effort for offense led by Emma Daoud-Hebert, who led the team with 11 kills. Ellie Marble and Marianna Payne showed offensive performances, each earning 9 kills. Lacy Cox (18 assists) and Kate Stidham (16 assists) kept the offense producing behind good sets. Hannah Stires' 14 digs led the defense in preventing the SMU attack attempts from succeeding. 

The first set saw the Saints take an early lead bringing the score to 9-5. The 'Cats then scored six-straight points to take an 11-9 lead. Central would build on their lead throughout the middle of the set, bringing the score to 20-15. Saint Martin's fought to chip away at the lead, but the chances fell in favor of the Crimson and Black as they would finish off the set with kills from Payne and Morgan Halady to win 25-18. 

The Wildcats and Saints started set two with a more evenly scored run with both teams getting to an early 4-4 tie. CWU earned a couple of extra chances to build a lead. Saint Martin's remained right behind Central, but the 'Cats continued to catch strides that built a larger lead. With the score at 22-18, the Wildcats scored three straight with kills from Corinne Westby, Daoud-Hebert, and a service ace from Marble to win the second set with another score of 25-18. 

Set three was a more even set with the two teams trading the lead several times. SMU started with the lead with five straight points off kills from Emily Garten, and Jennifer Soha, as well as two service aces from Garten. Central fought back to tie the set at seven. The teams traded points, and the score remained neck-and-neck throughout most of the set. A group effort for the Wildcats from Payne, Daoud-Hebert, and Marble kept the offense producing. Saint Martin's fought to the end, but the Crimson and Black found the chance to close out the match with a Payne kill to win the set 25-23 and finish the sweep of the Saints. 
 
Up Next 
The Wildcats return home on Thursday, Sept. 26 to face the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets in the Nicholson Arena at 7:00 p.m.