Bellingham, Wash - The Central Washington University volleyball team has advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA West Regionals, picking up a 3-2 (19-25, 25-20,25-20,12-25,15-11) win over Cal State Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon. 

The Wildcats (23-5) faced elimination at the hands of the Golden Eagles (22-6) entering the fifth set. The Wildcats got the quick start they needed. An ace from Madison Weg capped a 6-3 run that forced a timeout from the Golden Eagles. They'd cut the Wildcat lead to one, trailing 9-8. A pair of attack errors from Alejandra Negron opened opportunity for the Wildcats. They led 13-11 when Bridgette Webb and Makala Swart added kills to seal the win. 

"It's pretty awesome to have another chance to play with my teammates," Weg said. "That fifth set is always a tough one because it is so short. You really have to start strong and finish stronger while being consistent through the whole set. There isn't a whole lot of room for error. I think we did a good job at being consistent and being who we are." 

The offensive consistency was a stiff contrast from what the Wildcats experienced in the first set. The team accrued a dismal .071 hitting percentage, with just seven kills in the set. They'd drop the set 25-19 to the Golden Eagles. 

"There was no offense in the first set," head coach Mario Andaya said. "Our timing was a bit off. Maybe it was some nerves, maybe it was LA's pressure. LA was digging the ball and converting. They scored 18 kills. They didn't give us a chance to get on offense. We aren't used to not producing offensively." 

The offense picked up in a big way in the second set when Webb and Shelby Mauritson got into rhythm. Both Webb and Mauritson added four kills to the team's production. The offensive pickup happened quickly, as the Wildcats enjoyed an 11-4 lead early. The Golden Eagles cut the lead to one, trailing 21-20 to the Wildcats. The Wildcats scored four unanswered points, taking the set 25-20. 

The Wildcats led the third set 11-9 before ripping off a 10-2 run. They'd go on to take the set 25-20. Swart capped the set with an emphatic kill. She had three kills in the set, pushing her total to six entering the fourth set. The Golden Eagles picked it up, taking the fourth set 25-12 before falling to the Wildcats in five.

"We knew today was going to be a grind," Andaya said. "We weren't phased by the things that they were doing. It's a testament to our team and the hard work that they've put in. They were used to tough moments. We're certainly happy." 

The Wildcats wait to find out who their opponent is in the semi-finals. They'll take on CSU San Bernardino or Chaminade on Friday night at 5:00 p.m.