ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Seventh-seed Central Washington University volleyball team (18-7, 14-4 GNAC) travels to San Diego for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats will play in a GNAC-heavy representation in the West Regional, taking on fellow co-champion and second-seed Simon Fraser (20-4, 14-4 GNAC) on Thursday, Dec. 4 on the campus of Point Loma Nazarene University.
 
GAME INFORMATION
THURSDAY, 12/4/2025 vs 2-SEED SIMON FRASER
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REGULAR SEASON LOOKING BACK
Central finished the regular season in a four-way tie for the top spot in the conference. The Crimson and Black split its record against each of the top teams–defeating Simon Fraser and Alaska Anchorage in the first matchup of the season, while overcoming Alaska Fairbanks in the second-to-last week of the season. The 'Cats then defeated their rival in Western Washington to be the first team to clinch a share of the title.
 
However, on the final day of the season, The Wildcats dropped the first two sets but battled back and won sets three and four to force the fifth set. However, the 'Cats couldn't find an answer in the decisive set, as Simon Fraser steamrolled to a 15-4 win to claim another share of the GNAC title. With the victory, the Red Leafs secured their first-ever conference title, alongside the Wildcats, Nanooks, and Seawolves.
 
This first-round matchup between the 'Cats and the Leafs look to be a tiebreaker following the teams' regular season series, with each side gaining a hard-fought victory in five sets. If the regular-season contests have proved anything, it's that Thursday's matchup will possibly be a highly competitive battle between two championship teams who know each other well.
 
Leading Central into the West Regional are seniors Scottie Ellsworth and Ella Bines. Ellsworth currently leads the Wildcats, offensively, with 272 kills for an average of 2.86 per set, while Bines is third on the offensive list–recording 205 kills for an average of 2.53 per set. Ellsworth also is a strong defensive member on the right side–currently at second on the blocks ranking with 93 stops. Leading the 'Cats in blocks is GNAC Freshman of the Year Kailey Willsey, who's logged 104 total blocks, while also recording 171 kills and 19 service aces, and placing second in the GNAC this season in hitting with a .346 percentage. Another strong freshman for the Crimson and Black is Brooklyn Parker, who stepped into the libero spot and recorded 404 digs this season for an average of 4.75 per set. Wrapping up the Wildcat leaders is Kayleigh-Shay Chang, who ran the offensive production all season with 641 assists, while also leading the service line with 28 aces.
 
The Red Leafs enters the first round with Natalie Lemoine-Sells leading the offense with 318 kills, followed by Megan Hawkins with 275. Hawkins also leads the service line with 44 aces, while Eva Person fed the offense with 844 assists–earning her GNAC Setter of the Year honors and unanimous selection to First-Team All-Conference. Nina Kovacevic also is an offensive threat–leading the GNAC hitting 106-29-217 for a .355 percentage. Leading the Red Leafs, defensively, is Macyn Unger–recording 427 total digs for an average of 4.45 per set, while Logan Remington led at the net with 129 total blocks, including 20 solo blocks for an average of 1.34 blocks per set.
 
Round one of the West Regional matchup between the Wildcats and Red Leafs is set for Thursday, Dec. 4, with first serve from Golden Gymnasium in San Diego, Calif., scheduled for 1:30 p.m.