Monday, September 24, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. - For the second time in 10 months, Central Washington has handed Western Washington a 3-1 volleyball loss at Nicholson Pavilion.

The win over the nationally 13th-ranked Vikings plus a 3-0 sweep of Simon Fraser on Thursday has earned the Wildcats the GNAC Team of the Week award for the week of Sept. 16-23.

CWU’s win snapped Western’s six-match win streak.  The Vikings are 8-2 in their last 10 conference matches.  The only other loss came to the Wildcats last November at CWU.

CWU outhit Western Washington .318 to .135 victory in the victory before 979 fans at Nicholson Pavilion, posting the best percentage of any team against the Vikings this season.  WWU’s hitting percentage was also its lowest of the year.

“This was obviously a big match for us,” CWU head coach Mario Andaya, who recorded his 250th career victory earlier this season and now has an all-time record of 253-195 in 17 seasons at CWU, said.  “I’m proud of how we competed.  Our crowd was pumped and it made for a great atmosphere.”

Outside hitters Emmy Dolan and Marcy Hjellum had 16 and 15 kills in the victory.  Dolan hit for a .481 percentage (16-3-27) and Hjellum had a .297 percentage (15-4-37).  Hjellum also led CWU’s defense with seven blocks.  Dolan’s percentage was  more than twice her season percentage of .222.

“Offensively Emmy and Marcy were our rocks tonight,” Andaya said after Saturday’s victory.  “Emmy was on fire, but that is the type of performance we expect from her every day.  She works so hard and (her performance tonight) shows that she is getting comfortable in big moments.”

In CWU’s two matches during the week, Dolan had 23 kills and a .450 percentage.  Hjellum had 23 kills.  Middle blocker Erin Smith had 15 kills and a team-high nine blocks.

The Wildcats improved to 8-4 on the season with their two victories and moved into a second-place tie in the GNAC with Western Washington and Alaska Anchorage.  All three teams are 3-1.  Western Oregon leads the conference with a 2-0 record.