Central Washington University Athletics

MONMOUTH, Ore. - The Central Washington University volleyball team continued its strong run through conference play Thursday night, sweeping Western Oregon at the Wolves Athletic Center. The Wildcats have now won three straight GNAC matches, as well as nine straight sets, and improved to 7-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
 
Quoting Head Coach Lauren Herseth
 
"Winning on the road is hard and I don't think we ever settled in, but we stayed focused and found a way to string points together. Kennedy Webb was unstoppable on offense and Addie Allen came up big at the service line. We're certainly happy to grab this team win in Monmouth."
 
How It Happened
 
Central used a balanced offensive attack and a strong defensive effort to secure its third consecutive sweep. The Wildcats hit .212 as a team while holding Western Oregon to a .140 hitting percentage. Central finished with 42 kills, six service aces, six blocks, and 40 digs in the victory.
 
Ellie Marble led the Wildcats with 13 kills while adding two blocks and an ace. Kennedy Webb posted 10 kills and three blocks, while Corinne Westby added seven kills, including the match-clinching point. Kayleigh-Shay Chang directed the offense with 20 assists and six digs, while Addie Allen contributed 12 assists and two service aces. Defensively, Brooklyn Parker led all players with 19 digs and Mya VanderYacht recorded two aces.
 
First Set
 
Western Oregon opened the match, scoring the first three points of the match before Central answered with kills from Westby, Webb, and Kailey Willsey to even the set. Neither team found much separation through the middle portion of the frame, with the 'Cats holding a slim 13-10 advantage before the Wolves battled back to tie the score at 18-18. Central responded with a clutch 6-1 run fueled by an Allen service ace, a block by Hayli Tri and Webb, and kills from Marble and Mackenzie Godden to build a 24-19 lead. WOU scored twice late, but Willsey finished the set with a kill to give the Wildcats a 25-21 victory.
 
Second Set
 
The Wolves carried early momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 7-3 advantage behind strong serving and attacking. Central quickly flipped the momentum, scoring eight of the next nine points behind kills from Marble, Webb, and Westby to take an 11-8 lead. The Wildcats continued to control play from there, using an Allen service ace and consecutive kills from Marble to maintain separation. A late 4-0 run pushed Central's lead to 23-15, and after Webb delivered a kill for set point, a Western Oregon attack error secured the 25-16 win and a commanding two-set lead.
 
Third Set
 
Central came out firing in the third set, opening on an 8-1 run highlighted by a Chang service ace and kills from Westby, Webb, and Tri. The Wildcats maintained control throughout the set and led by as many as eight points at 18-10 after another Webb kill. Western Oregon refused to go away, scoring 11 of the next 16 points to trim the deficit to just 23-21 and put pressure on the visitors. The Crimson and Black remained composed during the rally, getting a key kill from Tri to reach match point before Westby put away the final point to complete the 25-21 set win and the three-set sweep.
 
Up Next
 
The Wildcats continue their road trip on Sunday, Sept. 27, when they travel to Olympia to face Saint Martin's. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m. inside the Costantino Recreation Center.