Wolves drop conference home opener, 3-0

Photo by Lance Masterson

Samantha Darby, no. 20, sets for Finley Buman, no. 10, during Thursday's match against Central Washington. The Wolves (7-2 overall, 0-1 GNAC) dropped their home opener, 3-0.

The Western Oregon volleyball team dropped its home opener to Central Washington 3-0 (25-22, 26-24, 25-21) Thursday at New PE Building to start WOU's conference slate.

The Wolves (7-2 overall, 0-1 GNAC) started their conference schedule in a heated battle with the Wildcats (3-4, 1-0). WOU in set one and two never trailed by more than five, getting some key defensive plays at the net by Chloe Asciutto and Lauryn Johnson. In set three, the Wolves used a 9-3 run late to help them stay close with the Wildcats, but were unable to complete the comeback as CWU took set three, and with that the match.

GNAC Offensive Player of the Week Bailee Hartsook ended with nine kills and three blocks while Madison Hornback finished with a team-high 16 kills. Asciutto ended with seven blocks and five kills and Johnson had four blocks and four kills. Kealani Rosa led WOU with 20 assists.

The Wolves continue their home action Saturday as they take on Northwest Nazarene, at 1 p.m.

- JD McShane, WOU Athletics