After a two-week break, volleyball is back with the biggest tournament of the season.
UAA returns Friday for the NCAA Division II West Regional Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center as the tournament host and No. 1 seed.
The tournament begins at noon with sixth-seeded UC San Diego taking on third-seeded Sonoma State. The Seawolves have a chance to continue their historic season at 7:30 p.m. against Dixie State in the fourth and final match of the day.
UAA (26-2) enters the tournament after winning the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title en route to a school record for wins.
The West Regional champion advances to the Division II Elite Eight on Dec. 10 in Tampa, Florida, where it will battle for a chance at a national championship.
NCAA Division II West Regional Championships
Friday's matches at Alaska Airlines Center
(Seeding in parentheses)
Noon – (6) UC San Diego (19-11) vs. (3) Sonoma State (26-3)
2:30 p.m. – (7) Point Loma (20-9) vs. (2) Western Washington (23-5)
5 p.m. – (5) Central Washington (20-7) vs. (4) Cal State San Bernardino (26-5)
7:30 p.m. – (8) Dixie State (19-10) vs. (1) UAA (26-2)
West Region playoff team capsules
UAA (No. 1 seed)
Record: 26-2 (18-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference)
Coach: Chris Green (eight years, 158-68 record)
Players to watch: Katelynn Zanders (375 kills, 313 digs), Julia Mackey (306 kills, 85 blocks)
Western Washington (No. 2 seed)
Record: 23-5 (17-3 Great Northwest Athletic Conference)
Coach: Diane Flick (16 years, 340-90 record)
Players to watch: Rachel Roeder (313 kills, 49 blocks), Kayleigh Harper (209 kills, 137 blocks)
Sonoma State (No. 3 seed)
Record: 26-3 (19-1 California Collegiate Athletic Association)
Coach: Bear Grassl (14 years, 254-141)
Players to watch: Kaitlyn Connolly (473 digs, 19 aces), Madelyn Densberger (314 kills, 321 digs)
Cal State San Bernardino (No. 4 seed)
Record: 26-5 (17-3 California Collegiate Athletic Association)
Coach: Kim Cherniss (24 years, 573-208)
Players to watch: Brenna McIntosh (209 kills, 101 blocks), Alexandra Torline (413 kills, 275 digs)
Central Washington (No. 5 seed)
Record: 20-7 (16-4 Great Northwest Athletic Conference)
Coach: Mario Andaya (20 years, 301-219)
Players to watch: Catie Fry (1057 assists, 196 digs), Linden Firethorne (365 kills, 25 aces)
UC San Diego (No. 6 seed)
Record: 19-11 (14-6 California Collegiate Athletic Association)
Coach: Ricci Luyties (six years, 120-55)
Players to watch: Meagan Wright (433 kills, 410 digs), Danielle Dahle (398 kills, 348 digs)
Point Loma (No. 7 seed)
Record: 20-9 (14-6 Pacwest Conference)
Coach: Jonathan Scott (two years, 39-18)
Players to watch: Heather Leavitt (501 kills, 381 digs), Savannah Wedemeyer (1164 assists, 248 digs)
Dixie State (No. 8 seed)
Record: 19-10 (15-5 Pacwest Conference)
Coach: Robyn Felder (four years, 65-43)
Players to watch: Makenzi Bird-Murphey (255 kills, 70 blocks), Delayne Daniel (291 kills, 249 digs)