Ellensburg, Wash. – The Central Washington University volleyball team continues its opening weekend of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play against No. 2 Western Washington. First serve between the Wildcats and Vikings is set for 7 p.m. PT inside Carver Gym in Bellingham, Wash. 
 
GAME INFORMATION
Wildcats at No. 2 Western Washington
Saturday | 7 p.m.
Bellingham, Wash. | Carver Gym 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats opened GNAC play in Canada against Simon Fraser on Thursday night. The Wildcats faced a 2-1 match deficit before coming back to take the game 3-2 (25-20, 17-25, 29-31, 25-11, 15-10). The Wildcat offense was notably efficient in the fourth set. The team converted on 13 of their 30 total attacks, good enough for a game-high .367 hitting percentage for the set. The momentum carried into the fifth set where they shut down the Clan to pick up the win.

Ashley Kaufman and Makala Swart finished the game with double-doubles for the Wildcats. Kaufman led the team with 18 kills while adding 13 digs. Swart smashed home 15 kills with 12 digs. Diana Fa'amausili added nine kills, Julia Mellander had eight kills and Bridgette Webb finished with seven kills. Gabrielle Aihara ran a smooth offense, dishing out 50 assists over the five sets. 

The Wildcat defense was stout throughout the entire contest. The Wildcats put together 14 total blocks led by Mellander who had team's only solo block while recording eight assisted blocks. Fa'amausili had six assisted blocks and Webb had five assisted blocks. Kyla Morgan led the squad with 34 digs. Sydney Remsberg racked up 17 digs while Aihara added 15 digs.

NCAA DII WEST REGION SHOWCASE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kyla Morgan was named to the NCAA DII West Region Showcase All-Tournament team last weekend.
 
Morgan was pivotal for the Wildcats defense as she racked up a total of 104 kills in four matches played. She posted a then season high of 33 digs against Cal State LA on Thursday, but immediately surpassed that in the next game with 35 against Azusa Pacific on Friday.
 
Offensively, Morgan also found ways to help distribute the ball to a well-balanced attack as she tallied 16 assists. Going into the week, Morgan currently leads GNAC in total digs with 184 and is second in digs per set at 5.75.
 
GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kyla Morgan was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after a strong performance at the NCAA DII West Region Showcase. The accolade is Morgan's first of the year. 
 
WILDCATS IN THE GNAC
The Wildcats performance prior to conference play has landed them among the league leaders in the GNAC. CWU is second in the conference in opponent hitting percentage, holding competition to a .165 hitting percentage. The team ranks third in conference with 11.65 assists per set and third in kills with 12.62 per set. The Wildcats have blocked the second most attacks in conference with 2.38 blocks per set. The team ranks third with 17.70 digs per set. 
 
Individual performances have also sent a handful of Wildcats to the top of the charts. Fa'amausili ranks seventh in conference in hitting percentage with a .282 mark. She also ranks fourth in blocks with 1.14 per set. Aihara's 9.89 assists per set is the third best in conference. Mellander ranks second in conference with 1.32 blocks per set. Morgan ranks second in digs per set with 5.89. 
 
SCOUTING No. 2 WESTERN WASHINGTON
The Vikings were selected to tie for the GNAC Conference title with the Wildcats, as both teams received 114 points. The Vikings earned seven first place votes. After a runner-up finish in the 2018 NCAA National Championships, the Vikings have opened the 2019 season with a spotless 9-0 record. The Viking's undefeated record marks the second-best start to a season in program history, trailing only the 13-0 start the team had in 2008. The road game should prove to be a challenge for the Wildcats, as the Vikings have won their last 32 games on their home court at Carver Gym. 
 
This season, the Vikings lead the GNAC in kills per set (14.26) and hitting percentage (.287). Standout Kayleigh Harper was selected as the Conference's Preseason Player of the Year. A season ago, Harper was Named a Second Team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Harper led the GNAC and finished third in Division II with a .410 hitting percentage. She set a conference single-season record with a .376 hitting percentage in GNAC matches. Harper also led the GNAC and was eighth in Division II with 1.36 blocks per set (163 total).
 
Harper was selected as the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after last weekend's performance at the NCAA DII West Region Showcase. Recently, Harper surpassed the 1,000 kills mark, becoming the 14^th player in Viking history to reach the milestone. Harper is 17 blocks short of becoming the second player in program and conference history to join the 1,000 kill, 500-block club. 
 
Gabby Gunterman and Mae Thungc were selected to the Preseason All-GNAC team as well. Gunterman has the second most kills on the team with 113 and is averaging 3.32 kills per set. Thungc ranks third on the team with seven service aces. 
 
Newcomer Malia Aleaga has become the team's setter. Aleaga leads the GNAC and is third in NCAA DII averaging 12.21 assists per set. Redshirt freshman Calley Heilborn leads the Vikings with 123 kills in 30 sets for an average of 3.62 kills per set.