BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Sonoma State University Seawolves upset the 22nd-ranked Central Washington University Wildcats volleyball team in the last game of the WWU Invitational by a score of 3-1 

Quoting Head Coach Mario Andaya 
"Sonoma was very good out-of-system, and we didn't have an answer for [Peyton McBride].  We just didn't convert on defense, and let the match get away from. SSU played more aggressive down the stretch and pulled away. Overall, this weekend we found some really good things we can build on. I need to coach them better on defense and manage the game better with our new lineups. I look forward to building our team up to what we believe we can be." 

How It Happened 
The Wildcats and Seawolves split the first two sets by scores of 28-26 for SSU in the first set and 25-20 for CWU in the second set. Sonoma State then took the third (25-19) and fourth (25-16) sets. The Seawolves won behind the efforts of Peyton McBride (18 kills), Meadow Cooper (14 digs), and Emily Hernandez (6 blocks). The Crimson and Black showed a strong performance behind Emma Daoud-Hebert, Ellie Marble, and Marianna Payne, who recorded 12 kills each. Daoud-Hebert also led the team in blocks with five, and Shaunessy Fisk led in digs with 22 total.  

First Set 
Sonoma State came out early to lead 3-1. CWU would stay within reach as the two teams traded points. The 'Cats caught a streak with kills from Payne and Scottie Ellsworth that allowed them to tie the set at 13. The teams fought point-for-point as the set would go into extra points. The Wildcats had the advantage several times to put away the set, but the Seawolves answered each time, ultimately capitalizing on a service ace from Kaden Young to take advantage and a kill from Peyton McBride to win the set 28-26 for Sonoma State. 

Second Set 
Set two saw Central strike early with a 6-1 run to force SSU into a timeout. The timeout worked in the Seawolves' favor going on a 7-3 run to make the score 9-8 for CWU. The 'Cats then caught a break, scoring three straight points off kills from Payne and Ellsworth. Sonoma State kept the score close, answering most of Central's points, but the margin proved too great as the Wildcats put away the set 25-20 off a kill from Daoud-Hebert. 

Third Set 
Sonoma State got a chance early and scored three straight to start the set. CWU earned a couple points through service errors, but the Seawolves found a groove that led to a 6-1 run to lead 9-3 prompting Central to take a timeout. The Wildcats doubled their score following a pair of kills from Marble and a service error, but SSU answered with three of their own to make the score 12-6. Sonoma State got a couple extra points to lead 23-14, but the 'Cat's showed energy and went on a 5-1 run to close the gap to 24-19. A kill from Emily Hernandez closed the set out, winning 25-19. 

Fourth Set 
Both teams started the set exchanging points, and the score remained close until the teams were tied at 11. Sonoma State scored nine straight to lead 20-11 from four service aces by Cooper Meadow. A Daoud-Hebert kill stopped the rally, but the Seawolves answered right back with a kill from Brooklyn Jackson. Central would get a couple of points before SSU answered back to threaten match point, 24-15. The Wildcats got a kill from Carissa Stratman, but Sonoma State answered with a Kaden Young kill to win the set and match 25-16. 

Up Next 
The Wildcats will be in action next weekend when they host the CWU Invitational Thursday through Saturday. They'll first take on the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos in their home opener for the CWU Invitational on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 7:00 p.m. at Nicholson Arena in Ellensburg.