MONMOUTH, Ore. – Sophomore Alisha Bettinson recorded nine kills while Western Oregon out-blocked the nation's statistical leader at the net, but the Wolves were outhit dropping a three-set decision to Central Washington at the New P.E. Building. Set scores on Thursday night were 25-18, 25-12, 25-20.

The Wolves (4-10, 1-4 GNAC) hit .216 for the match. Freshman setter Leila Holt and junior opposite Paige Kelsey combined for six of Western Oregon's seven team blocks on the night. WOU held Central Washington to five blocks for the match, far fewer than their 3.17 blocks per set average entering Thursday. Kelsey and redshirt freshman Amanda Short had six kills during the match. Junior libero Christie Colasurdo paced the WOU back line with 16 digs.

Western Oregon fell behind early in game one, but evened up the score at 6-6 with a pair of Bettinson kills and a combo block from the duo of Holt and Kelsey. Staying close until 9-9, CWU scored four of the next five points to build a 14-10 lead. Holt's ace and a Wildcat attack error brought the Wolves within four points, but a 3-0 run posted a 25-18 win for CWU.

Set two saw the Wildcats adjust to the flow of play and open a 15-8 lead midway through the set. Western closed within 17-10 on an attack error, but CWU responded with a service ace and three consecutive kills putting the visitors up 22-10. The teams traded off points, which allowed Central Washington to win the second 25-12.

Neither team led by four points in the third set, which saw the Wolves creep back from early deficits for a 10-9 score. CWU sandwiched a bad swing with a pair of kills to spark a string of winning eight of the follow 11 points. Three sideouts later, the Wildcats closed out the match with a 25-20 set win.

Central was led by 11-kill performances from Linden Firethorne and Kiah Jones.

The Wolves are next in action on Saturday, Oct. 3 at home against Northwest Nazarene at 7 p.m.