ELLENSBURG, Wash.—The Central Washington volleyball team is headed down to Cal State San Bernardino to take on No. 24 Chaminade in the opening round of the NCAA West Regional. In a survive-and-advance bracket, the 'Cats control their own destiny.

MATCH INFORMATION
Thursday, December 2^nd
12:00 PM
Vs. No. 24 Chaminade
Coussoulis Arena
San Bernardino, CA
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"This is a very exciting opportunity for this young team. This is what we have been preparing for on and off the court all season. We've had a tough schedule against some great opponents to prepare us, but the real work starts now. Chaminade is a great opponent who we have been fortunate enough to see earlier this season. This week will provide a new set of both challenges and opportunities so we will just have to play great volleyball like we have all year." Said CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya.

TOURNAMENT BRACKET
The west regional is a single-elimination bracket consisting of eight teams; Central Washington, No. 2 Cal State San Bernardino, No. 13 Western Washington, No. 24 Chaminade, No. 18 Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State LA, Simon Fraser, and Alaska Anchorage. Central, Simon Fraser, Alaska Anchorage and Cal State LA are all receiving votes just outside of the AVCA Top 25. Should the Wildcats move on, they will take on the familiar winner of Simon Fraser and Western Washington.

FACING THE SILVERSWORDS
The 'Cats and Silverswords faced off in the preseason where the Silverswords walked away with a 3-2 win in the fifth set, 15-12. The Silverswords finished 27-5 overall, with a 17-3 PacWest conference record winning their first conference title in recent memory.

As a team the Silverswords are averaging 14.0 kills per set on a .220 hitting percentage. The Silverswords setting team averaged 12.0 assists per set and lead opponents with a 1.7 service ace per set average. At the net the Silverswords defense averaged 2.0 blocks in front of a dominanting 17.9 digs per set.

Leading the Silverswords is junior Brooken Pe'a. The outside hitter has played every set for the Silverswords this season earning 322 total kills on a 2.98 per set average. Directing the offense is junior setter Alexia Byrnes. The 5' 11" setting specialist had 139 kills alongside a whopping 1127 assists this season averaging 9.39 per set. At the net it's junior middle blocker Lataisia Saulala whose 112 blocks has shutdown opposing hitters.

REGULAR SEASON 'CATS
The 'Cats closed out the regular season with a 16-8 overall record. Their 12-6 conference record earned them the second spot in the GNAC behind Western Washington.

All season the 'Cats have turned to Ashley Kaufman to put away the big kills. The sophomore has 277 total kills this season on a 3.11 kills per set average. As member of the 'Cats back-row she is also second on the roster with 202 digs and has 24 service aces.

Directing the offense all year has been the setting duo of Sydney Remsberg and Tia Andaya. Andaya with 451 assists on the season and 5.07 average provides the 'Cats with an additional weapon behind her 200 total kills and a 2.25 per set average. She is also second on the roster in service aces with 26 and has 49 total blocks. Remsberg leads the 'Cats roster with both 463 total assists and 35 service aces.

GNAC dig leader Hannah Stires provides the backbone for the 'Cats offense. The freshman libero led the conference with 402 total digs averaging 4.67 per set. The libero can also score from behind the line with 21 service aces and even 2 kills.

At the net its has been a mix of young and veteran talent. Freshman Emma Daoud-Hebert leads the 'Cats in blocks per set with a powerful 1.23, while fifth year Leanna Shymanski leads the 'Cats roster with 94 total blocks this season.