ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The Central Washington University volleyball team (5-4, 1-2 GNAC) earned its first conference victory of the season Thursday night, sweeping Alaska Anchorage at Nicholson Arena.
Quoting Head Coach Lauren Herseth
"Our defense was lights out and our setters did a great job distributing the offense. Anchorage is a really good team and to get 18 kills in set two is impressive; really proud of how we competed tonight."
How It Happened
Central controlled much of the match from start to finish, hitting .319 as a team while holding the Seawolves to a .128 attack percentage. The Wildcats totaled 50 kills, seven service aces, 62 digs and 47 assists in the straight-set victory to improve to 5-4 overall and 1-2 in GNAC play.
Ellie Marble led the Crimson and Black with a match-high 17 kills while adding 11 digs and two service aces.
Kailey Willsey contributed nine kills, and
Kennedy Webb added eight kills.
Kayleigh-Shay Chang paced the offense with 25 assists and two aces, while
Addie Allen recorded 18 assists. Defensively,
Brooklyn Parker posted a match-high 18 digs and
Mya VanderYacht added 13 digs.
First Set
After falling behind 2-0, the Wildcats quickly found their rhythm, using a 7-1 scoring run to take a 7-3 advantage. Marble keyed the surge with three kills before Central extended the lead to 11-5 following consecutive kills from Marble and
Mackenzie Godden. The Wildcats continued to pressure Alaska Anchorage throughout the set, pushing the margin to 18-8 after a block from
Hayli Tri and
Kennedy Webb. Central never allowed the Seawolves to get closer than eight points the rest of the way and closed out the set on a Marble kill and a UAA service error for a 25-13 win.
Second Set
Central jumped out quickly again in the second frame, taking an early 6-3 lead behind a service ace from Chang and kills by Marble, Webb and Tri. The Seawolves battled back to tie the score at 6-6, but the Wildcats responded with a decisive 14-5 run. Consecutive kills from Westby, Marble and Webb helped build a 20-11 advantage, while Chang added another service ace during the stretch. Marble then delivered four kills over the closing portion of the set as Central cruised to a 25-15 victory and a 2-0 match lead.
Third Set
The third set proved to be the most competitive of the night. Neither team could build significant separation through the opening stages before Central used kills from Westby, Willsey and Marble to move ahead 14-10. The Wildcats later stretched the lead to 22-14 and appeared on the verge of a comfortable finish. Alaska Anchorage responded with a furious 10-2 rally, winning 10 of the next 12 points to erase the deficit and tie the set at 24-24. Undeterred, Central answered in the biggest moments as Marble hammered home a kill to earn match point before Allen capped the night with a service ace for the 26-24 set victory and the sweep.
Up Next
The Wildcats continue GNAC play on Saturday, Sept. 19, when they host No. 19 Alaska Fairbanks inside Nicholson Arena. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT.
