ELLENSBURG, Wash. -  The Central Washington University Wildcats volleyball team (6-4, 4-0 GNAC) continues their winning streak to GNAC play after defeating the Seattle Pacific University Falcons 3-1 in their fourth-straight win.  

Quoting Head Coach Mario Andaya  
SPU is physical and can really contain opponents with their defense and serving. Our team stayed the course and found more offense with each set, and our serve-receive passers grinded for their teammates. Our serving stayed aggressive, and we were able to convert some big plays in chaos. Great team effort but Morgan made very timely plays attacking and blocking and Kennedy started to solve her side of the net which was huge.    

How It Happened  
The Falcons started off the match with a strong win for set one (25-20), but the Wildcats answered the first set loss by winning set two (25-22), set three (25-22), and set four (25-15) to take the victory.  

The 'Cats offense was led by Marianna Payne, who earned 11 kills and 2.5 blocks. Other strong offensive efforts include Emma Daoud-Hebert (9 kills), Ellie Marble (8 kills), and Morgan Halady (7 kills and 4 blocks). Holding down the Wildcat defense was a joint effort by Kayleigh-Shay Chang and Hannah Stires as both earned 15 digs each. Chang also led the team in service aces with three total.  

The two teams started the match trading the lead and keeping the score neck and neck. Central caught momentum, leading 16-12 at one point, but the Falcons scored six straight points to take the lead 18-16. The teams traded points as SPU kept the lead out of reach of the Wildcats. Emily Tulino then closed the door on CWU with a service ace to win the set 25-20.  

Set two started similarly to the last with both teams fighting for points and keeping the score close. SPU took a 7-5 lead off an Eva LaRochelle kill and held the lead for most of the set. Then with the score being at 19-16, The 'Cats hit a stride, scoring four straight points and taking a 20-19 lead. The Falcons answered with a point of their own, but CWU scored the next two points. The Crimson and Black would keep the lead and finished the set with a Morgan Halady kill, winning 25-22 and tying the match at 1-1.   

Central started the third set off with a bang, going on a 6-1 run and then holding a steady lead. After trading a few points, the Falcons scored four straight points to trail 11-12. The Wildcats answered with three points of their own. The teams exchanged points, and the score stayed within three until SPU scored three straight to tie the set at 18. Both teams traded the lead going into the final moments. The 'Cats then scored three points to take a 23-21. The Falcons scored one more point, but a kill from Payne forced set point and an attack error by SPU won the set for CWU 25-22.  

SPU found a quick jump to take an early lead. However, Central scored four straight to take a 7-5 lead. The Falcons tied it up on a service ace from LaRochelle. Then the Wildcats caught a stride and scored five straight to lead 12-7. SPU fought to keep the score close, but the Crimson and Black seemed to have an answer for the Falcons, responding with two or three points. The 'Cats would score five straight points to shut the door on the Falcons, winning 25-15 and winning the match 3-1.  

Up Next  
The Wildcats' next match will be on Saturday, Oct. 5, when they travel to Nampa, Idaho to take on the Nighthawks of Northwest Nazarene University. First serve will be at noon from the Johnson Sports Center.