After three days back at home the Warrior volleyball team heads back on the road, this time to the Pacific Northwest, to compete in the Division II West Region Showcase hosted in Ellensburg, Wash. by Central Washington University.

Team Records: 0-4. 0-0 CCAA [CCAA Standings]
 
Thursday
Warriors vs. Dixie State (0-4, 0-0 PAC West), Ellensburg, Wash., 3:00 p.m. | [Live Stats] [Live Video]
Warriors at Central Washington (3-1, 0-0 GNAC), Ellensburg, Wash., 8:00 p.m. | [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 
Friday
Warriors vs. Concordia-Portland (3-0, 0-0 GNAC), Ellensburg, Wash., 12:30 p.m. | [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 
Saturday
Warriors vs. Azusa Pacific (4-0, 0-0 PAC West), Ellensburg, Wash., 3:00 p.m. | [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 
Series Notes: The showcase will be the Warriors first time facing Dixie State and Concordia-Portland. Stan State has played Central Washington six times since 1998 going 2-4 against the Wildcats. The Warriors' last victory over CWU was in 2007 … The Warriors are 0-2 against Azusa Pacific, obtaining the two losses on neutral ground once in 2012, and once in 2013.
 
About The Tournament: In its second year, Central Washington is one of six sites hosting the tournament. Each site is to host two teams from the California Collegiate Athletic Association, the Pacific West Conference, and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Ellensburg will be home to the 2016 fifth and sixth place teams from each of these conferences. Each team will play four matches and an all-tournament team will be awarded at the end of the showcase.

[Tournament Website]
 
Murphy Earns Tournament Honors: After amassing 26 kills and 23 digs at the Concordia Labor Day Invitational, Grace Murphy was one of eight players to be named to the all-tournament team. Murphy averaged 2.17 kills per set over the weekend, leading the Warriors front row with nine kills against McKendree.  
 
Preseason Poll: In the 2017 preseason coaches poll Stan State was picked to finish fourth in the north division of the CCAA, clinching a third consecutive place in the postseason tournament. The Warriors are preceded by Cal State East Bay, Chico State, and Sonoma State. Cal State San Bernardino was picked top in the south division and favorited for the CCAA title.   

About Dixie State:  Still looking to earn their first victory of the season, Dixie State was chosen to finish third in the Pacific West Conference after going 17-11 last season. Shannon Sorensen leads the Trailblazers offense with 1.86 kills per set while Jordyn Nelson (4.14 assists per set) and Kara Moore (4.08 assists per set) run Dixie State's offense. Defensively Sid Brandon leads with 3.62 digs per set from the back row and Ashtyn Lunt leads with 1.50 blocks per set in the front row.

About Central Washington: With a 17-12 record last season the Wildcats are predicted to finish fourth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Outside hitter Shelby Mauritson (3.23 kills per set) leads the Wildcats front row with setters Niki Cook (5.15 assists per set) and Gabriella Aihara (4.92 assists per set) facilitating.  Libero Kyla Morgan leads Central Washington's back row with 4.15 digs per set.
 
About Concordia-Portland: Picked to place sixth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Cavaliers are coming off of a 15-13 overall record in 2016 and have gone undefeated so far in 2017. Lindsey Dorsey is Concordia's leading hitter with 3.18 kills per set (.170). Leah Witzel is running the Cavaliers offense with 78 assists in three matches, 8.67 per set. Defensively Ana Dols leads with 4.82 digs per set and Colby Barnette defends at the net with 2.36 blocks per set.
 
About Azusa Pacific: After a 16-13 campaign in 2016, Azusa Pacific has been picked to finish fourth in the Pacific West Conference. Middle Blocker Sara Wagenveld is the Cougars' kills leader with 2.86 kills per set, and outside hitter Natalie Klapp follows with 2.79 kills per set. Klapp is also second on the team with 2.57 digs per set behind libero Bailey Henington with 3.43 digs per set. Danika Young (4.93 assists per set) and Shaylah Kagehiro (4.75 assists per set) facilitate the Cougars' offense.