The Chico State volleyball team has conquered several goals during the 2016 season. Thursday the Wildcats look to take the first step in attaining a goal that no other team in the program's history has done before—be the best in the West. The 'Cats hope to get hot in the freezing cold of The Last Frontier, facing No. 1 seed Alaska Anchorage in the opening round of the single-elimination NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional in Anchorage, Alaska. First serve is slated for 8:30 p.m. Pacific time at the Alaska Airlines Center.
 
Fans can follow the action on the Internet via Live Stats, accessible on the Wildcat Athletics website. Live streaming video is also available online.
 
The Wildcats will need to pack some warm clothing along with their uniforms and volleyball gear. The weather forecast in Anchorage during the NCAA West Regionals calls for temperatures no higher than 23 degrees, with nighttime lows between minus-1 and 15 degrees. Snow is also expected each day of the tournament.
 
The Wildcats head into the NCAA West Regional sporting a 23-7 season record, a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division title and a trip to the CCAA Championship Tournament finals. All of those accomplishments have set the stage for Chico State's first run at a national championship since 2008, and to do so Head Coach Cody Hein's squad will have to vault several challenging hurdles in Anchorage, not the least of which is its first round West Regional opponent.
 
Alaska Anchorage is 29-2 on the year, playing on its home court throughout the NCAA West Regional and riding an eight-match winning streak into first round action. The Seawolves—13-1 at the Alaska Airlines Center this season—have not lost a match since dropping a five-set decision to Western Washington back on October 22, and since then have lost just three sets in streaking to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) title and the No. 9 ranking in all of Division II volleyball.
 
Alaska Anchorage is led by the GNAC and Division II Conference Commissioner Association (D2CCA) West Region Player of the Year, senior setter Morgan Hoog (1,152 assists, 140 kills, 31 service aces). The Seawolves also feature three hitters—sophomores Leah Swiss and Chrisalyn Johnson, and freshman Diana Fa'amausili—with over 300 kills on the year. Fa'amausili and senior middle Erin Braun have combined for 240 blocks on the season.
 
The Wildcats counter with the CCAA Player of the Year and D2CCA Second Team West Region selection, senior setter Torey Thompson (1,138 assists, 19 kills, 26 aces, 369 digs and 43 blocks in 2016). All-CCAA recipients Olivia Mediano and Camryn Rocha have racked up 372 and 305 kills, respectively, while Kim Wright—another all-conference selection—has posted 287 kills, 42 aces and 69 blocks on the year.
 
Chico State performed well on the road this season, winning 13 of its 19 matches away from Acker Gym.
 
Thursday's matchup will be the ninth time the Wildcats and Seawolves have met, with the two teams splitting the first eight meetings. The last time Alaska Anchorage and Chico State went head-to-head, the Seawolves bested the 'Cats in five sets September 2, 2011 at the Cal State San Bernardino Coyote Classic. The Wildcats have not beaten Alaska Anchorage in volleyball since sweeping the Seawolves September 11, 1993 at the UC Davis Western Invitational.
 
The winner of the Chico State-Alaska Anchorage match will take on either Northwest Nazarene or Simon Fraser in the NCAA West Regional semifinals Friday at 8:30 p.m. Pacific time.
 
The winner of Saturday's West Regional final will advance to the NCAA Championship Tournament Elite Eight December 8-10 in Sioux City, South Dakota to determine the national Division II volleyball champion.
 
WILDCAT NOTES: Torey Thompson enters Thursday's match just 11 assists shy of passing current Chico State coach Sable Villaescusa to become the program's all-time career assists leader…Olivia Mediano needs 20 kills to set a new single-season career high…Shannon Cotton is averaging 5.0 digs per set in postseason play…Chico State is 2-3 in NCAA Championship Tournament matches and 4-5 in postseason play during the Cody Hein era.
 
 
NCAA Division II West Regional Championships schedule
All matches played at the Alaska Airlines Center (capacity 5,000)—Anchorage, Alaska
All times Pacific

CLICK HERE for Live Stats
CLICK HERE for live streaming video
CLICK HERE to visit the official NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional homepage
 
Thursday, December 1—Quarterfinals
1 p.m.: No. 6 Cal Baptist (20-8) vs. No. 3 Western Washington (21-7)
3:30 p.m.: No. 7 Central Washington (17-11) vs. No. 2 Cal State San Bernardino (24-4)
6:00 p.m.: No. 5 Northwest Nazarene (20-7) vs. No. 4 Simon Fraser (21-7)
8:30 p.m.: No. 8 Chico State (23-7) vs. No. 1 Alaska Anchorage (29-2)
 
Friday, December 2—Semifinals
6:00 p.m.: Cal Baptist/Western Washington winner vs. Central Washington/San Bernardino winner
8:30 pm: Northwest Nazarene/Simon Fraser winner vs. Chico State/Alaska Anchorage winner
 
Saturday, December 3—Championship
8:00 p.m.: Semifinal winners
(winner advances to NCAA DII Elite Eight, December 8-10, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota)