ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University volleyball team (14-5, 10-2 GNAC) finished off its homestand in a big way after sweeping Montana State Billings (1-17, 0-13 GNAC) to sweep both games this week.
 
Quoting Head Coach Mario Andaya
"We had good week of training and ended it with a solid win today. Another balanced offensive performance with several players scoring. It was nice to see our response in some tough moments and come through with consistent play."
 
How It Happened
Central's offense flowed for the whole game–winning decisively in all three sets by scores of 25-10, 25-17, and 25-14, respectively.
 
A very all-around performance for the entire team as eight different Wildcats got on the board for scoring with Scottie Ellsworth leading the pack with 13 kills, followed by Ella Bines, Ellie Marble, and Kailey Willsey, who each recorded seven kills. Kayleigh-Shay Chang kept the offense moving with her 28 assists, while six CWU players recorded service aces–led by Marble with two. Brooklyn Parker led the defense with 18 digs, while Bines and Willsey led at the net with two blocks each.
 
Central opened the match in a big way–going on a 9-1 run. MSUB responded with a 4-1 run to cut the lead to five points, but the Wildcats answered with four unanswered points. The teams traded a few points before the 'Cats went on a six-point streak to make it a 23-8 lead. Both teams traded the next two points as CWU earned the set-winning kill from Ellsworth to take set one 25-10.
 
Set two began more competitively as both teams battled for the lead. The Yellowjackets held the lead for most of the beginning of the match–getting the score to 11-10. Then, the Wildcats began to pick up a rhythm and overtook the 'Jackets on a 5-1 run to take a 15-12 lead. The teams traded a pair of points, but CWU then got four more points to build its lead. A service error gave MSUB a point to stop the run, but the 'Cats responded with three more points to make it 23-15. The second set then finished off in the same style as the first with both teams trading two points as Ellsworth once again putting away the Yellowjackets for a 25-17 victory and the Crimson and Black took a 2-0 lead.
 
Central opened set three with a 5-0 run. MSUB answered with a point but the 'Cats responded with a 7-1 run to take a 12-2 lead. The Yellowjackets found a stride and got five unanswered points to cut the lead to five. The teams traded points for a short time before CWU found a five-point run of its own to make it 20-11. MSUB got a point but was answered with three more Wildcat points. Then, with the lead at 23-13, the teams once again finished the set by trading a pair of points as Bines finished off the 'Jackets to give the Crimson and Black the 25-14 victory and the sweep.
 
Up Next
The Wildcats head back out on the road–crossing the Cascades to take on Saint Martin's on Thursday, Nov. 6. First serve from Marcus Pavilion in Lacey, Wash. is set for 7:00 p.m.