Complete Box Score

SEATTLE (Oct. 29) – Angie Wodrich had a match-high 23 kills and 20 digs to help lead Seattle Pacific to a 3-2 victory over Central Washington and into first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in a battle of national powers Saturday night at Brougham Pavilion.

With their eighth straight victory, the Falcons (13-2 GNAC, 19-5), ranked No. 18 in NCAA II, move into sole possession of first place in the GNAC, just percentage points ahead of No. 12 Central Washington (12-2 GNAC, 18-4) and Seattle University, who share identical league records. After dropping the first game, the Falcons came back to win 22-30, 31-29, 30-16, 23-30, 15-9.

Wodrich (So., 5-10, Richland, Wa.) provided six kills in the second frame alone to help the Falcons rebound from a slow start in Game 1. Wodrich capped off a 7-2 run midway through Game 2 to put the Falcons ahead 20-12 and in control of tying the match.

The Wildcats, however, stormed back and evened the game 28-28. Wodrich broke ties at 28 and 29 points with a pair of kills, and Chelsey Myers (Sr., 5-10, Minden, Nv./Douglas) finished off the pivotal game with a kill of her own.

SPU carried the momentum over into Game 3 and dominated the Cats with seven unanswered points to cap off a 17-5 run that gave SPU a 27-12 lead. Central rebounded to win Game 4, but SPU broke a 4-4 tie with three straight points and carried that to victory in the decisive fifth game.

Myers finished with 14 kills and eight digs in the win, SPU’s 10th straight at home and 12th straight GNAC home victory. Alyssa Given (So., 5-10, Salinas, Ca./Notre Dame) added 18 kills, 11 digs, three blocks and a match-high three service aces. Setter Jenna Von Moos (Jr., 5-10, Stanwood, Wa.) finished with six kills on a .429 hitting percentage, a match-high 64 assists and 16 digs.

LeAnne McGahuey led Central with 20 kills and a match-high nine block assists. She hit at a .312 clip. Crystal Ames added 15 kills, 21 digs and four block assists. Cristina Null was also in double figures with 11 kills.

The victory also bolsters SPU’s playoff hopes. Eight teams from the Pacific Region earn berths into the NCAA II tournament. The Falcons entered the match in a three-way tie for the No. 9 regional ranking. Central came in at No. 7. The GNAC champion receives an automatic berth.

The conference lead will again be on the line when the Falcons play at cross-city rival Seattle University in a GNAC match Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Seattle Pacific def. Central Washington 22-30,31-29,30-16,23-30,15-9
Central Washington (12-2, 18-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - McGahuey,LeAnne 20-1-9; Ames,Crystal 15-0-4; Null,Cristina 11-0-1; Schurman,Rachael 7-0-4; Stevens,Erika 5-0-3; Pasley,Kristin 4-0-4; Krahn,Sophie 1-0-2; Dollente,Lindsey 1-1-1; Scheidt,Darcy 0-2-0; Totals 64-4-14.0. (Assists) - Dollente,Lindsey 51. (Dig leaders) - Scheidt,Darcy 23; Ames,Crystal 21; Pasley,Kristin 14; Dollente,Lindsey 13; Stevens,Erika 10
Seattle Pacific (13-2, 19-5) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Wodrich,Angie 23-0-2; Given,Alyssa 18-3-3; Myers,Chelsey 14-0-2; Biornstad,Rachel 7-0-2; Dibble,Whitney 7-1-4; Von Moos,Jenna 6-0-2; Mount,Torii 0-1-0; Totals 75-5-9.0. (Assists) - Von Moos,Jenna 64. (Dig leaders) - Mount,Torii 26; Wodrich,Angie 20; Von Moos,Jenna 16; Given,Alyssa 11; Butac,Tiffany 9; Myers,Chelsey 8
Site: Seattle (Brougham Pavilion). Date: Oct 29, 2005. Attend: 311. Time: 2:12. Referees: Paul Jensen, Scott Cubberly.