ELLENSBURG, Wash. – For the eighth consecutive season, the Central Washington University volleyball team is headed to the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats travel to San Bernardino, Calif. to take on host-school and American Volleyball Coaches Association No. 1 CSU San Bernardino on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. 
 
GAME INFORMATION
Wildcats at No. 1 CSU San Bernardino
Thursday, Dec. 5 | 7:30 p.m. PT
The Den | San Bernardino, Calif.  
 
QUOTABLE
"We're excited to see that our name was called," CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya said. "We put a lot of work into the season and its nice to see that the whole body of work got us into this thing. We are in a tough region. We're used to what our region is like. Hopefully we'll be able to put our best foot forward and see where that takes us. We're excited. This opportunity doesn't come very often for a lot of teams. It's become fairly standard here, which is cool, but we aren't taking it for granted."
 
WILDCATS IN THE GNAC
Last Tuesday, four Wildcats brought home five awards from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Kyla Morgan led the way by repeating as GNAC Defensive Player of the Year while being named First Team All-Conference. 
 
Morgan finished the regular season with 640 digs, the most of any season of her career. Morgan averaged 5.87 digs per set, a total that was best in conference. During her senior night, Morgan moved into third all-time in career digs in GNAC history. Her career total is 2,333, and is the program record for career digs.
 
Joining Morgan was Makala Swart, who was a unanimous First Team All-GNAC selection. Swart racked up 310 kills in 94 sets played for an average of 3.30 kills per set. She converted at a .213 hitting percentage throughout the season. Defensively, Swart scooped up 283 digs and had 44 total blocks, three of which came on the solo effort. Swart totaled 351.5 points, for an average of 3.74 points per set, ranking her eighth in conference in the category.
 
Gabrielle Aihara added to her extensive resume by earning All-GNAC Honorable Mention. By the end of the regular season, Aihara had 912 assists over 109 sets for an average of 8.37 assists per set. The total ranked her eighth in the GNAC. Aihara found 20 kills on a .216 hitting percentage. She ranked second on the team with 29 service aces. Defensively, Aihara had 271 digs and 10 block assists.
 
Bridgette Webb was also named All-GNAC Honorable Mention. The fifth-year senior had the most kills she's had with the club, totaling 247. Webb converted at a .259 clip, a mark that ranks her 13^th in the GNAC. Defensively, she had 81 total blocks, as 12 blocks happened by herself. Webb was responsible for 307.5 points on the year.

LAST TIME OUT
The CWU volleyball program celebrated the careers of Morgan, Webb and Aihara prior to first serve against Simon Fraser. The trio were sent out of Nicholson Pavilion on the right note, as the Wildcats dominated the Clan 3-0 (25-13, 25-10, 25-11) on Nov. 23.
 
From the moment the first serve was launched, the Wildcats (18-10, 13-7 GNAC) dominated the Clan (17-11, 13-7 GNAC) in their regular season finale. The Wildcats smothered the Clan's offense, holding them to a -.058 hitting percentage for the match. The Clan were only able to muster 19 kills over the three sets of action. The Wildcats hammered 36 kills, dished out 34 assists and scooped up 69 digs. Double-figures separated the two teams in each of those categories. 
 
Each set featured monster runs from the Wildcats. They opened the match by jumping out to a 10-1 lead over the Clan. They'd cruise to a 25-13 opening set win. 
 
The second set was even better for the Wildcats. The Wildcats lead ballooned to 18-4 during the set. The Wildcats would go on to take it 25-10. 
 
The third set was similar to the one prior. The Wildcats rolled to an 18-6 lead. The Clan had no shot at climbing back into the match. They dropped the final set 25-11.  
 
Ironically enough, a freshman led the Wildcats on senior night. Ashley Kaufman finished the match with 11 kills on a .286 hitting percentage. She'd add 11 digs to complete the double-double. Swart was a kill away from reaching her double-double. She had 11 digs and nine kills. Webb was efficient with her offensive attack. She had eight kills on a fantastic .500 hitting percentage. 
 
Julia Mellander led the groups defensive efforts. She capped the night with six total blocks. One of them came on the solo effort. 
 
SCOUTING CSU SAN BERNARDINO 
The Coyotes are one of two undefeated teams left in the country. They'll enter the West Regional with a spotless 27-0 record. This is the 20^th consecutive appearance in the regional. They've hosted the event 10 times, with this year's being the first since 2013. 
 
The Coyotes claimed both the regular-season and tournament in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The Coyotes are led by two-time CCAA Player of the Year Alexis Cardoza, CCAA Libero of the Year Leila To'omalatai, and All-CCAA selections Sascha Dominque, Stephanie Doak and Mehana Ma'a. 
 
Cardoza is again the California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year. The junior outside hitter leads the league and ranks third nationally in both kills (4.47) and points (5.08) per set, adding 2.98 digs and 0.53 blocks per set to go along with 29 service aces. Cardoza, was a unanimous first-team All-American in 2018.
 
To'omalatai was named the CCAA Libero of the Year. She leads the Coyotes with her 330 total digs and 3.71 digs per set. To'omalatai has appeared in all 89 frames, and is fourth on the squad with her 26 service aces. To'omalatai has made just 21 reception errors in 430 total attempts, for a .951 percentage.
 
Dominique leads the nation in hitting percentage at .512 averaging 2.47 kills per set with only 22 errors all season. She's racked up 201.5 points with 28 digs, 72 blocks, and 13 assists. 
 
Doak has made an immediate impact in her first season with the 'Yotes. She has added 2.74 kills per set in support of Dominique and Cardoza. She added 49 digs and 37 blocks on the defensive line. 
 
Ma'a has split the setting duties with Marlee Nunlee this season, but is still 10^th in the CCAA at 6.16 assists per set. She's been strong on the defensive end with 166 digs, third on the team.
 
Coyotes Head Coach Kim Cherniss earned CCAA Coach of the Year. In her 29th campaign, the Coyotes are one of just two unbeatens remaining in Division II women's volleyball, alongside Nebraska-Kearney. The Coyotes have been taken to five sets just one time this season at the hands of CSU Los Angeles in the CCAA Tournament finals. 

SERIES HISTORY
Since 2003, the series history has favored the Coyotes. They've gone 10-2 in 12 matches against the Wildcats. The teams met twice a season ago. The first meeting took place in Ellensburg on Aug. 25. The Wildcats were on the wrong end of a 3-0 (27-25, 25-19, 25-19) score. The Wildcats and Coyotes met again, this time in the NCAA West Regional semifinal. The Wildcats showed resiliency, but fell 3-1 (17-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-20) on Nov. 16.