September 27, 2005

ELLENSBURG, Wash.—The Saints faced Central Washington University on Sept. 22 in Ellensburg, WA. SMU was swept by the Wildcats 17-30, 20-30, 14-30 on Thursday night at Nicholson Pavilion. SMU forced three early ties in both the first and third games, and two in the second, but never could close the gap late in any of the games. Saint Martin's was led by three players with six kills apiece. Kirstin Bautista (Sr., University Place, WA), Andrea Tarbet (Fr., Rochester, WA), and Keana Morrisey (Jr., University Place, WA) all totaled six kills, while Bautista and Morrisey each chipped in defensively with a team-high seven digs.

CWU’s middle blockers combined for 25 kills and a .774 hitting percentage. The Wildcats as a team hit .461 on offense, its best percentage in more than eight years. Central, ranked No.9 in the AVCA NCAA Division II Top 25, increased its conference win streak to 27 matches with the win, dating back to its final five matches of the 2003 season.

LACEY, Wash.— Saint Martin's was swept by Western Washington University 22-30, 17-30, 15-30 on Saturday, September 24 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball match at SMU Pavilion. SMU, which didn't use a single substitution in the match, got nine kills each from Andrea Tarbet and Keana Morrisey.

The win snapped a two-match losing streak for WWU, who improved to 7-6 overall and 3-2 in conference play. SMU, which is winless in 12 matches this season and 0-6 in conference action, hit just .046.

The Saints travel to Seattle University on Saturday night at 7 p.m. SU is coming off a historic upset win over No.9 ranked Central Washington. Seattle handed CWU (10-3, 4-1 GNAC) its first GNAC loss since Oct. 31, 2003 -- a stretch of 27 straight wins -- when the Wildcats lost to fourth-ranked Western Washington in Ellensburg. The win solidifies the Redhawks (8-8, 6-0 GNAC) as a team to watch in the upcoming NCAA Division II Pacific Region playoff hunt as well as placing them atop the GNAC standings. The Redhawks join Seattle Pacific as the only two undefeated teams left in GNAC play, with Seattle holding a half-game lead over the Falcons.