Western has 23-match home win streak snapped by No.13 Central :: Match between nationally ranked teams draws 1,230

Oct. 16, 2004

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Middle blocker LeAnne McGahuey had a match-high 24 kills as undefeated Central Washington University ended Western Washington University's 23-match home winning streak with a 30-28, 30-26, 26-30, 30-25 victory in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball match Friday between two nationally ranked teams before a record crowd of 1,230 at Sam Carver Gymnasium.

The Vikings, rated No.21 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Top 25, fell to 11-6 overall, 7-3 in the GNAC, with their second straight loss. Middle blocker Kristy Carstensen (Sr., Puyallup) led Western with 17 kills.

It was just the second home loss for the Vikings since 1999, and the first since falling to BYU-Hawaii on Sept. 7, 2002, a defeat which had snapped a school-record 24-match home streak.

The Wildcats, ranked No.13 nationally, improved to 18-0, the best start in school history, and have won 23 straight matches dating back to last season. Central leads the GNAC at 10-0.

Central held a 24-18 lead in the final game, but Western twice rallied to within a point before the Wildcats closed out the match with four straight points, the first two on kills by McGahuey.

Western had overcome a three-point deficit late in the third game, closing the frame out with a 9-2 charge after trailing 24-21.

"We did a good job of sustaining the pressure there, of not letting them off with our mistakes," said Western coach Diane Flick. "I'm glad to see we have that, it's something to build on."

In the opening game, the Wildcats took the lead for good at 4-3, and led by as much as six, although the Vikings closed within one on six occasions, the final one at 29-28. In the second game, the score was tied at 17-17, but Central used a 7-2 run to take control.

"We didn't get mentally down tonight, we kept fighting," Flick said. "Central is a great team and played a great match, but I'm excited about what I saw from us."

Middle blocker Meghan Evoy (Sr., Olympia/Capital) had 14 kills and six blocks for Western, and libero Courtney Schneider (Fr., Snohomish) had 36 digs, two short of the school record.

For Central, setter Kate Reome had a career-high 71 assists, the third-best mark in school history. Outside hitter LaQue Branch had 16 kills and 33 digs, one short of the school record.

Western hosts Saint Martin's College in a GNAC counter Saturday (7 p.m.).