Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The No. 11 Western Washington University Women's Volleyball team dropped its second straight match with a four-set loss to Central Washington (24-26, 25-14, 19-25, 21-25) Saturday night in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match-up at Whatcom Community College.

The Vikings have lost two consecutive matches following a 16-match winning streak, falling to 16-4 overall and 10-2 in GNAC play. They are tied with the Wildcats (14-5 overall, 10-2 GNAC), Alaska Anchorage and Northwest Nazarene (all 10-2) for the conference lead.

Outside hitter Abby Phelps (RS Fr., Manson, WA/Chelan) led the Vikings with 15 kills on a .364 hitting percentage. Rachel Roeder (Sr., OH, Sammamish, WA/Issaquah) and Jennica McPherson (Sr., Opp, Seattle, WA/Kennedy) each contributed 12 kills. McPherson tallied her third double-double of the season recording a team-high 12 digs.

The Wildcats were led by 19 kills from outside hitter Kiah Jones (.545 hitting pct) and 18 kills by outside hitter Linden Firethorne.

Central took the opening set 26-24 to jump out to the early lead. Harper (4 kills) and McPherson (3 kills) led the Vikings each hitting .429 in the set.

The Vikings evened the match 1-1 with a commanding 25-14 second-set victory. McPherson paced the Viking attack with 5 kills on 6 attacks (.833) and setter Brette Boesel (RS Fr., Brewster, WA) added 3 service aces.

The Wildcats forged ahead with a 25-19 third-set victory to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Phelps tallied 7 kills on a .500 hitting percentage.

WWU couldn't mount a comeback dropping the fourth set 25-21 to give the Wildcats their eighth win in the last nine matches.

Up Next: The Vikings return to action with a pair of matches next week at Simon Fraser (Tuesday, 10/27, 7 pm) and hosts Montana State Billings (Saturday, 10/31, 7 pm) at Whatcom Community College.

The Record: After a 16-match winning streak the Vikings have dropped 2 consecutive matches to fall to 16-4 overall and 10-2 in GNAC play...entered the week ranked No. 11 in the AVCA Division II poll.

Game Stats:

  Central Washington def. Western Washington 26-24,14-25,25-19,25-21  Site: Bellingham, Wash. (Whatcom Pavilion)
  Central Washington (14-5, 10-2 GNAC)  Kills-aces-blocks - Jones 19-0-1; Firethorne 18-2-1; Quirk 6-1-2; Weg 6-0-1; Fry 5-1-4; Wheelhouse 4-0-6; Totals 58-4-8.0.  Assists - Fry 43. Dig leaders - Milner 18; Hanses 8
  Western Washington (16-4, 10-2 GNAC)  Kills-aces-blocks - Phelps 15-2-3; McPherson 12-0-3; Roeder 12-0-4;  Harper 9-0-5; Buckner 6-1-1; Totals 57-6-11.0.  Assists) - Boesel 29; Tribley 19. Dig leaders - McPherson 12; Phelps 8