ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University volleyball team (5-3, 1-0 GNAC) kicked off its home opener Thursday night with a huge upset win over #8 Simon Fraser after coming back from 1-2 to win in five sets to open GNAC play in the winning column.
 
How It Happened
The Wildcats opened the match with a strong win in set one, before dropping sets two and three. However, the Crimson and Black persevered–winning set four to force a decisive set five where the 'Cats achieved the upset and opened conference play with a big win.
 
A huge performance for the Wildcats collectively, especially from Ellie Marble and Corinne Westby, as both recorded double-doubles with Marble recording 16 kills and 14 digs, and Westby logging 10 kills and 10 digs. Scottie Ellsworth had a big showing on offense with 15 total kills with a .375 hitting percentage. Kayleigh-Shay Chang went off in the setting department–logging 50 total assists in the match, while Mackenzie Godden led at the net with nine total blocks. Brooklyn Parker showed at clutch moments–recording 17 digs, including several play-saving dives that led to multiple Wildcat points.
 
Both teams opened the match with a strong level of competition, with neither side giving an edge to the other. That changed, however, when trailing 5-7, Central came alive and scored eight straight points to make it a 13-7 game. Simon Fraser responded with a 7-2 run to make it a one-point game. The teams traded the next couple of points before SFU hit a stride–scoring three points to take an 18-17 lead. CWU answered with a 5-1 run to make it 22-19. The Red Leafs fought to bring the score back to a tie, but the 'Cats held firmly and finished off the first set 25-23 off a kill from Marble to take the 1-0 lead.
 
Central opened the second set carrying the momentum from the previous round–getting out to a 9-5 lead. The teams battled back and forth as the Wildcats held onto a steady lead. Then, with the score at 15-11 for CWU, the Red Leafs came alive and scored eight straight points to flip the script and take a 19-15 lead. The 'Cats tried to claw the score back, but SFU found a rhythm and held its lead to finish off the Wildcats 25-20 to tie the match at one set apiece.
 
Simon Fraser's momentum continued into set three with relentlessness–opening the set with a 6-1 run. Central answered with three points, but SFU returned the favor with three of their own. The Red Leafs appeared to take a strong hold on the momentum–hitting multi-point runs and making it a double-digit game soon after. However, the Wildcats showed that they wouldn't go down easily, scoring six points to make it a four-point game. Both teams battled for the next couple of sets of points, but the Red Leafs found a rhythm at the right time, leading 21-16, as they scored four unanswered points to take set three 25-16 and take the 2-1 lead in the match.
 
Central didn't waste any time to start the fourth set–going on a 12-6 run before the Red Leafs began to fight back. SFU chipped away at the lead, but CWU responded with another run, this time scoring three points to make it a 17-9 game. Simon Fraser answered with four straight points. The Red Leafs tried hard to battle back, but the damage proved to be too much as the Crimson and Black closed out the set 25-17 with three straight points to tie the match at two wins apiece and force the decisive set five.
 
The Wildcats shot out of the gate in set five–scoring four quick points. SFU answered with a pair of points before the teams traded the next couple of points. The 'Cats remained in the lead, though narrowly, as Simon Fraser battled fiercely. Then, with a 12-10 score, Central scored two points to force match point. The Red Leafs responded by scoring four straight points to tie the game at 14-14. The teams traded a point each. Then, a kill from Ellsworth put the Crimson and Black at match point once again at 16-15. CWU didn't waste another opportunity, as Megan Hawkins went for a shot that was blocked by Tri and Chang that sealed the win for the Wildcats as Nicholson Arena erupted in celebration.
 
Up Next
The Wildcats are back on Saturday, Sep. 20, as they take on their rivals, the Western Washington Vikings. First serve from Nicholson Arena is set for 1:00 p.m.