ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington Wildcats denied Western Oregon's volleyball team a weekend sweep with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-21) win on Saturday at Nicholson Pavilion.

"We definitely started slow and that didn't help us," said Western Oregon head coach Tommy Gott. "We didn't get a rhythm until late. In that first set, things went by too fast for us to get a run in place."

Central Washington (16-5, 10-4 GNAC), a side that has received votes in the top 25 for most of the season, came out of the gates quickly with a .571 hit percentage in the first set to establish its offense. The Wildcats tallied 18 kills in the first set, their highest total of any of the three games.

Makala Swart led the attack with 13 match kills to go along with 10 digs for the double-double.

Despite their highest hit percentage in the first set, Western Oregon (6-15, 3-11 GNAC) were held to their lowest kill total with just nine in the game.

"We didn't communicate well enough early on to get things going," said Gott. "By the time it happened it was the end of the match and it was just too little, too late."

The Wolves were unable to win a game, but did show marked progress through each set, posting the closest contest in game No. 3 with just a four-point differential.

"Our middles did well. That was a big aspect of the game plan and it delivered. They worked well in transitions and getting up to help us out. That created some opportunities that turned into points later on in the match," Gott said.

Sophomore Sierra Stultz came within two kills of a double-double with eight kills and 10 digs in just her third match since transitioning from libero back to outside hitter.

"Stultz is transitioning well back out to hitter. She has a high volleyball IQ and uses her strengths to figure her game back out," Gott said. "Her work on the back line has been big to help slow down opponents and she's catching up really quickly."

The Wolves return home for two matches next week in Monmouth. First up, they host Alaska Anchorage Oct. 25 at NPE Gym with a 7 p.m. start. The team will turn around and host Alaska Fairbanks on Oct. 27 for its Senior Day match. Opening serve on Saturday is set for 2 p.m.