ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Dec. 4) - The Central Washington University volleyball team took Cal State San Bernardino to five sets (18-25, 25-23, 21-25, 27-25, 9-15) in the NCAA Division II West Regional, but were unable to come out on top.

"It's hard right now, not because of the loss, but because the end is so sudden for our seniors," CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya said afterward. "They've put in so much time and lived this lifestyle for over four years and to have it end abruptly stinks."

The Wildcats kept the first set close, but the Coyotes were able to hang on, 25-18. Trailing 18-10, the Wildcats went on an 8-2 run, aided by kills rom Kaitlin Quirk, Kiah Jones, and Linden Firethorne, closing the deficit to 20-18. San Bernardino closed the set, taking five consecutive points.

Central opened set two taking a 3-1 lead. San Bernardino took the next three points and a 4-3 lead. Jones then recorded a kill before Sabrina Wheelhouse and Madison Weg recorded a block, taking a 5-4 advantage. Brenna McIntosh notched a kill to even the score for the Coyotes.

Trailing 10-8 Quirk notched a kill and Firethorne picked up back-to-back aces, levelling the set at 10-10.

Firethorne finished the match with 13 kills, eight digs, three blocks, and five assists.

The closely contested second set saw only level pegging or a one-point margin until Wheelhouse and Firethorne combined for a block, giving Central a 17-15 lead.

The Coyotes evened the score with a kill form Malika O'Brien, 18-18. San Bernardino then went on a 5-1 run, taking a 23-19 advantage.

The Wildcats battled back, taking the next six points. Quirk notched consecutive kills, putting CWU at set point, before Jordan Deming picked up an ace to close the set at 25-23.

"I was very proud of how they persevered and continued to play with intent the entire match," Andaya added. "To come back late in those two sets, to extend the match, defines the character this team has. They never saw the end in sight and kept playing, so it's hard now that it's done.

Quirk tallied 14 kills on the evening.

With Deming serving Central took the first four points of set three, closing a 10-point run.

The Coyotes came within one-point of levelling the set multiple times, but the Wildcats held their lead. The Wildcats extended their lead back to four, 16-12, and force CSUSB to call a timeout.

San Bernardino stayed alive, bringing the set to 18-18 on a kill from Lauren Nicholson. Firethorne took a set from Catie Fry on the next play and set it down for a kill and a 19-18 lead.

Fry finished the match with 49 assists, nine kills, and 10 digs.

The Coyotes took the next two points, claiming a 20-19 lead, before Andaya called a timeout. After the timeout Quirk found the floor with a kill to even the set, 20-20.

San Bernardino three of the next four points, taking a 23-21 edge, before taking the third set 25-21.

The fourth set was a see saw battle as both sides exchanged points and neither team being able to pull away.

The Wildcats took a 12-11 lead on a kill by Jones, followed by a Firethorne block. The Coyotes claimed the next point to even the set once again.

Tied at 15-15, CWU recorded consecutive blocks and took a 17-15 lead.

The Coyotes tied the set 19-19 and took the next three points, claiming a 23-19 lead. After a bad set by Jayann DeHoog, Fry recorded an ace. The Coyotes reached match point after an attack error by Wheelhouse.

The Wildcats weren't ready to be done yet, Firethorne recorded a kill and kept the match alive. Central took the next two points, before CSUSB recorded a kill.

With the score 25-25, a service error by CSUSB gave the Wildcats set point and an attack error leveled the match at 2-2.

San Bernardino took a quick 5-0 lead to start the final set, forcing a timeout by Central. Following the timeout, Central took the next point to regain the serve.

The Coyotes pulled ahead to an 8-2 advantage, forcing a court change. San Bernardino went up 10-4, before Andaya called a timeout. The Coyotes closed the set 15-9 and the set 3-2.

The Wildcats close the season with a record of 20-8.

"I told them the loss doesn't define the season or their careers," Andaya finished. "It just starts a chapter to look back on and build off of for the returners and for the seniors to reflect on and be proud of."