PORTLAND, Ore. – The Central Washington University volleyball team earned the top spot in the GNAC Preseason Poll, after winning the conference title for the first time in 19 years last season, the conference announced Tuesday.
 
The Wildcats earned 97 total points in the vote–including eight first-place votes. Central's 97 points were followed by Simon Fraser's 84 points. CWU and SFU battled down to the final weekend last season for the conference title with the 'Cats sweeping Saint Martin's in the second-to-last game, while the Red Leafs fell to Alaska Fairbanks 3-1 later that evening to seal the championship for Central Washington.
 
Central finished last season with an 18-7 overall record, while going 16-2 in the conference. The season was highlighted early on with strong victories over San Francisco State, and Cal Poly Pomona–who both finished the season in the top ten of the AVCA Division II National Poll. The 'Cats' nonconference schedule reflected a tough stretch as CWU went 2-4. The Wildcats, however, did not look beaten up as they opened conference play with a seven-game winning streak. Their two losses during the season were to Simon Fraser on Oct. 17, and Seattle Pacific on Oct. 24. Central shook off the losses and hit another streak–winning eight straight games to close the season. Central made their 12th-straight tournament appearance as the fifth-seed but fell in the opening round to the fourth-seeded Point Loma in a nail-biting five-set match.
 
Returning this season from the championship squad includes senior outside hitter Scottie Ellsworth, who recorded 185 kills and 72 blocks last season, Ellie Marble, who earned All-GNAC Honorable Mentions with 239 kills and 220 digs, and Kayleigh-Shay Chang, who led the team in assists with 547 and service aces with 31. Other returners also include Carissa Stratman, Kennedy Webb, Mya VanderYacht, Mackenzie Godden Ashton McMahon, Corinne Westby, Payton Davis, and Paige Sturing.
 
Newcomers to the Wildcat squad include transfers Ella Bines, senior from Orlando, Fla., who previously played for Alaska Fairbanks and North Florida, Addie Allen, sophomore from Montana State Billings, Hayli Tri, sophomore from Western Washington, and Kaitlyn Leaverton, sophomore from Yakima Valley College.
 
Four freshmen join the 'Cats including Kailey Willsey from Yakima, Wash., Brooklyn Parker from Allen, Texas, Taylor Speake from Livingston, Mont., and Stella Petersen from Manson, Wash.
 
The Wildcats open the season in rival territory at the WWU Invitational in Bellingham, Wash. where they will take on San Francisco State on Thursday, Sep. 4, Cal Poly Pomona on Friday, Sep. 5, and St. Cloud State on Saturday, Sep. 6.
 
Central will then travel to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Aloha State Showdown to face Hawaii Hilo on Thursday, Sep 11. The 'Cats then doing a double-header on Friday, Sep. 12–taking on Florida Tech at 2:00 p.m., and Chaminade at 7:00 p.m., then will close out the weekend against Hawaii Pacific on Saturday, Sep. 13.
 
The home opener for the Wildcats will be when they open GNAC play against the Simon Fraser Red Leafs on Thursday, Sep. 18. with first-serve scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from Nicholson Arena.


2025 GNAC Preseason Volleyball Poll
 

Rank	School (1st Place Votes)	Points
1	Central Washington (8)	97
2	Simon Fraser (1)	84
T3	Western Washington (1)	79
T3	Alaska Fairbanks	79
5	Alaska Anchorage	85
6	Western Oregon	44
7	Northwest Nazarene	39
8	Seattle Pacific	37
9	Saint Martin's	21
10	Montana State Billings	10