Wildcat volleyball picked second in preseason poll
HERALD SPORTS STAFF | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years AGO
The Central Washington Wildcats were picked to finish second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the GNAC announced on Wednesday.
COURTESY PHOTO/CWU/JACOB THOMPSON
ELLENSBURG — CWU volleyball was picked to finish second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference on Wednesday, the GNAC announced.
Coming off a 2021 season where the Wildcats finished with a 17-9 overall and 12-6 in GNAC play, CWU also advanced to its ninth-consecutive Division II West Regionals.
The Wildcats finished the 2021 regular season with a 6-1 record and had a 3-1 victory over Chaminade in the West Regional.
Returning for the Wildcats is the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American and GNAC Newcomer of the Year Tia Andaya - who posted 2.27 kills, 5.07 assists, 2.24 digs and .54 blocks per set a year ago. First Team All-GNAC outside hitter Ashley Kaufman also returns, averaging 3.32 kills and 2.27 digs per set in 2021. Locking down the defensive unit is the 2021 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year Hannah Stires, who had a GNAC-high 4.68 digs per set a year ago.
Leading the polls was Western Washington, who won the conference title in 2021, with a leading 98 points. Following Central were Alaska Anchorage and Siman Fraser, rounding out the top four teams.
The season will begin with the Hawaii-Alaska Challenge in Honolulu on August 19.
GNAC Volleyball Rankings
No. 1 Western Washington (98 points)
No. 2 Central Washington (89 points)
No. 3 Alaska Anchorage (74 points)
No. 4 Simon Fraser (70 points)
No. 5 Seattle Pacific (61 points)
No. 6 Alaska (50 points)
No. 7 Northwest Nazarene (43 points)
No. 8 Montana State Billings (25 points)
No. 9 Saint Martin’s (22 points)
No. 10 Western Oregon (18 points)
ARTICLES BY HERALD SPORTS STAFF
Eagles hit the pitch, fall to North Dakota on the road
CHENEY – The Eastern Washington women's soccer team couldn't find its offensive rhythm in a 4-0 loss to North Dakota, according to a statement by EWU athletics. The Eagles outshot the Fighting Hawks 19-13 and held them without a single corner kick but were unable to capitalize on their chances.
GALLERY: Grant County Fair 2025
MOSES LAKE – The barns are closed. The Spaceburger booth is cleaned up and quiet. The rodeo grounds are recuperating, though likely spruced up already, knowing the fairgrounds crew, and another Grant County Fair and Moses Lake Roundup season is behind us. Here are a few glances at what this year’s fair and rodeo offered. The Columbia Basin Herald sends our congratulations to all the 4-H, Grange and Future Farmers of America competitors who worked hard to earn recognition this year. Well done, and we look forward to seeing next year’s crop of agriculture enthusiasts showing off what they can do.
Starch Madness remains in Boise through 2031
MOSES LAKE — In a statement by the Big Sky Conference, the Starch Madness tournament will remain in Boise through 2031. The conference and Idaho’s state capital agreed to terms that keeps the annual men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in Idaho Central Arena.