ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The Central Washington University volleyball team is postseason-bound! Placed seventh in the NCAA Division II West Region, the Wildcats advance to their tenth straight postseason.
 
Who stands in their way? The Western Washington Vikings, who placed second in the West Region and are hosting the regional tournament. The Wildcats and Vikings will face off this Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m.
 
"We're very excited that we're in," Head Coach Mario Andaya said. "It's been a very challenging year and we created this opportunity for ourselves and to play a program like WWU, that's just the way it's going to be. We're familiar with each other. We just played each other a few weeks ago so it'll be very exciting."
 
The Wildcats closed out the regular season with a 16-10 overall record, 11-7 in the GNAC. They finished third in the conference behind WWU and the top-seeded Alaska Anchorage Seawolves.
 
Leading the 'Cats offense this season is Ashley Kaufman, who posts 3.04 kills per set along with 263 digs and 33 services aces. Emma Daoud-Hebert leads the nation in blocks per set (1.55) and has 202 kills on the season. Tia Andaya, the GNAC career triple-double record holder, is averaging 2.59 kills and 5.44 assists per set while adding 183 digs and 73 blocks.
 
Hannah Stires has a team-leading 444 digs, an average of 4.44 per set. Sydney Remsberg leads the 'Cats in assists with 554 and has added 150 digs and 18 service aces. Kylie Thorne and Marianna Payne provide over two kills per set each.