ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University volleyball team (2-0) delivered an early-season statement Friday night, knocking off No. 4 Point Loma (1-1) in dominant fashion with a three-set sweep in its second game of the CWU Invitational at Nicholson Arena.
Quoting Head Coach Lauren Herseth
"That was awesome. Our group came through in big moments and found ways to score against a very talented and physical Point Loma team. I'm so impressed by our poise down the stretch and our ability to make plays when it matters most."
How It Happened
Central kept a balanced flow of offensive production and strong play at the net to secure the upset sweep over the Sea Lions. The Wildcats hit .257 as a team with 36 kills against just 10 attack errors, while also totaling 16 block assists and 41 digs. After a tightly contested opening set that featured 17 ties and 11 lead changes, CWU closed out each set down the stretch to earn the 25-21, 25-23, 25-22 victory and improve to 2-0 on the season.
Corinne Westby and
Ellie Marble led the Wildcats with nine kills apiece, while
Kailey Willsey added six kills on a .353 hitting percentage and
Mackenzie Godden hit .667 with four kills.
Addie Allen and
Kayleigh-Shay Chang combined for 33 assists,
Brooklyn Parker paced the defense with 12 digs, and Willsey and
Hayli Tri each recorded four block assists to help CWU control play at the net.
First Set
The opening set was a battle from start to finish, featuring 17 ties and 11 lead changes. Neither team led by more than two points through the first half of the frame, with kills from Willsey, Westby, and Marble helping the Wildcats keep pace. After Point Loma built a 13-11 advantage, The 'Cats responded with a 4-1 run highlighted by an Allen service ace to take a 15-14 lead. The Sea Lions continued to answer, and the teams traded points until they were deadlocked at 20-20. From there, the Wildcats seized control behind a dominant stretch at the net. Back-to-back blocks by Westby and Tri sparked a 4-0 run that put CWU ahead 24-20, and a final block by
Kennedy Webb and Willsey sealed the 25-21 set victory.
Second Set
Set two showed another tightly contested battle, as Point Loma grabbed an early 5-2 lead behind a service ace and several key kills. The Wildcats slowly chipped away, getting points from Willsey,
Mackenzie Godden, Tri, and Westby to stay within striking distance. CWU finally pulled even at 19-19 when a block by Godden and Willsey stuffed a PLNU attack, then took its first lead of the late stages at 20-19 on a Willsey kill. The teams traded points to a 21-21 deadlock before the Wildcats made their move. Godden delivered a kill to put Central in front 22-21, a Point Loma attack error extended the lead to 23-21, and after the Sea Lions fought back to tie the set at 23-23, Marble recorded a clutch kill for set point before a Point Loma attack error sealed the 25-23 victory and a 2-0 Wildcats lead.
Third Set
The Crimson and Black seized control early in the third set and never looked back on its way to completing the sweep. After building a 7-4 advantage behind a pair of aces from Allen and Westby, the Wildcats put together the decisive run of the match. CWU scored five straight points to turn a 9-6 lead into a 14-6 cushion, highlighted by a block from Tri and Webb, a service ace from Chang, and kills from Marble and Westby. Point Loma fought back with a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to 15-13, but the Wildcats quickly regained control. A block by Godden and Willsey sparked another surge, and the 'Cats stretched the lead back to five at 20-15. The Sea Lions trimmed the margin to 23-21 late, but a Westby kill brought up match point before a Point Loma attack error sealed the 25-22 victory and completed the upset sweep.
Up Next
The 'Cats close out their time in the CWU Invitational tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 29, taking on the Chaminade Silverswords. First serve is set for 1:30 p.m. following the conclusion of the Simon Fraser-Point Loma match.
