SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.—The Central Washington volleyball team fell to GNAC rival and No. 13 Western Washington in four sets in the NCAA West Regional semifinal. This was the first meeting between the 'Cats and Vikings in an NCAA regional.

"Tonight's match looked like culture vs culture which is very cool to see. I think we had a great year; we have a very special group that has clawed their way up to this point. We've worked on a lot of things to get us here and we had to display it over a month ago and even tonight. We showed sparks of being capable to move on, but I am very proud of our girls and these players, it was a great year." Said CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya.

The opening set kicked off what would be a grudge match between the two GNAC heavy weights.

After exchanging blows, Tia Andaya and Marianna Payne went back-to-back with a pair of slams to put the 'Cats ahead early, 5-2.

The Vikings rallied back, going on a four-point run to provide an equalizer at 13-13.

It took a three-point run at the hands of two errors by the 'Cats for the Vikings to break to equalizers and take a 21-18 lead.

Ashley Kaufman and Tia Andaya cut the Vikings momentum with kills, but the Vikings had pushed ahead and taken set one, 25-21.

The grudge match continued into set two, both sides continued to exchange kills until a four-point run on three errors allowed the 'Cats to take a 9-7 lead.

The Vikings fought through offensive struggles pulling within one, but another three-point run from the 'Cats held them off at 16-12.

A pair of kills from Marianna Payne highlighted a five-point run, and the 'Cats had pulled ahead to take set two, 25-20.

Emma Daoud-Hebert was able to pick up a big a block and the 'Cats were ahead 5-2 early.

Kylie Thorne stepped up with a pair of huge slams from the left side, Tia Andaya and Ashley Kaufman exchanged kills, and Leanna Shymanski slammed down three straight put the 'Cats ahead 22-15.

Defensive struggles ensued for the 'Cats and the Vikings put together a 13-4 run to come back and take set three 28-26.

In set four the 'Cats came out firing with an answer, holding the Vikings to within three until they pulled away 9-6.

Emma Daoud-Hebert picked up a kill down the middle after two big outside swings from Ashley Kaufman and the 'Cats cut the deficit to 17-11.

Sydney Remsberg followed a kill from Marianna Payne with a service ace off libero Kasey Woodruff to create life for the 'Cats.

Kylie Thorne would pick up the final kill of the season as the Vikings took the final set and the match, 25-15.