Central Washington University Women's Volleyball

Lauren “Lo” Herseth took the reins of the program in December of 2025. Prior to this promotion, Herseth served at the Associate Head Coach and assisted the Wildcats in reaching the NCAA West Region Tournament every year since joining the staff in 2020.   The 2025 season was another historic year for the Wildcats. The team claimed a share of the GNAC title with a 14-4 conference record. On the season, the ‘Cats finished 19-8 including 6 wins over ‘Top 25’ teams and a thrilling 5-set win over #14 ranked Simon Fraser in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The team ultimately fell short to Fresno Pacific University in a 5 set battle during the second round, but the future is bright as the team will return key players for the 2026 season. In 2024, the ‘Cats went 18-7 overall and 16-2 in conference play. 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 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 and claim its first GNAC title in 19 years. Central then made their 12th-straight tournament appearance as the fifth-seed. Since joining the staff, the Wildcats have produced: NCAA D2 Tournament Appearances – 5x GNAC Champions – 2x (2024, 2025) AVCA D2 All-Americans – 9 selections D2CAA All West Region – 6 selections GNAC Academic Champions – 4x GNAC All Conference – 25 selections GNAC Preseason Player of the Year – Tia Andaya (2023) GNAC Defensive Player of the Year – Hannah Stires (2021, 2024) GNAC New Comer of the Year – Tia Andaya (2021) GNAC Freshman of the Year – Kailey Willsey (2025) A former Wildcat, Herseth competed for the program in 2011-2014 and contributed to three NCAA appearances. She finished her career ranked in the program history’s top ten for both sets and matches played, and currently holds the CWU record for reception percentage. Herseth was a team captain and a three-time GNAC All-Academic member while majoring in Physical Education and School Health.   Herseth also participated on the Women’s Basketball team in the 2013-2014 season. She was very involved with athletics and served as the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President for three years. After graduation, Herseth began her teaching and coaching career in Olympia, WA.   Started at CWU: February 2020 Experience: 2025-Present: Central Washington University -- Head Volleyball Coach 2024-2025: Central Washington University -- Associate Head Volleyball Coach 2020-2023: Central Washington University -- Assistant Volleyball Coach 2019: Olympia High School (Olympia, WA) – Assistant Volleyball Coach 2016-2018: Saint Martin’s University (Lacey, WA) -- Assistant Volleyball Coach Education: Central Washington University, 2019 -- M.S. Athletic Administration Central Washington University, 2015 -- B.S. Physical Education & School Health Olympia High School (WA), 2011 Hometown: Olympia, Wash.

Andaya is hoping for an encore performance from his Wildcats in 2016, his twenty first season at the helm. Andaya, who began his head coaching career with the Wildcats at the tender age of 24 prior to the 1996 season, is now the dean of Great Northwest Athletic Conference coaches. Having spent more than one-third of his life as Centrals volleyball mentor, Andaya, 42, has taken the Wildcats program from a 5-23 record in its first year as a NCAA Division II member (1998) and turned it into a perennial contender in both the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the West Region. Andaya is also the schools all-time leader for career coaching victories with 320 and has taken the program to the NCAA tournament eight times. A former track and field standout at CWU in the long and triple jump, Andaya began assisting with the Wildcats volleyball program under his predecessor, the late John Pearson, in 1992. Spending two years as junior varsity head coach and two more as a varsity assistant to Pearson, Andaya was handed the reigns of the team before the school's next-to-last season in the NAIA in 1996. Andaya proceeded to guide Central Washington through its final days in the NAIA to its three-year stay in the Pacific West Conference (1998-2000), and ultimately its move to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2001. Fifteen seasons at or above the .500 mark and six NCAA tournament appearances have resulted since joining the GNAC, and the Wildcats have had a .500 or better conference record every season since 1999. In 2004, Central Washington won all 26 of its regular-season matches to become just the sixth school in NCAA Division II history to complete the regular season without a loss. After the teams win streak reached 31 consecutive matches (including the final five matches of 2003) and the Wildcats had obtained their highest national ranking (11th) since joining the NCAA ranks, only a formidable Hawaii Pacific squad interfered with a potentially-extensive postseason run by CWU. The Wildcats success culminated with Andaya earning Great Northwest Athletic Conference and Pacific Region Coach of the Year honors. A second straight conference championship followed in 2005 and, after receiving an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament, Andaya guided Central to its first postseason victory since 1991 with a five-game defeat of second-seeded Cal Poly Pomona. The Wildcats also came within one game of the regional championship match, losing to Cal State San Bernardino in five games in the regional semifinals. After losing four senior starters, including two All-Americans, to graduation from the 2005 squad, Andaya took a youthful 2006 squad to a third straight postseason appearance and a third-place finish in the conference standings. Over the course of those past nine seasons, nine Wildcats -- Kate Reome 05, LeAnne McGahuey 06, Crystal Ames 06, Kristin Pasley 07, Rachael Schurman 09, Brandie Vea 11, Kady Try '11, Erin Smith '12 and Caite Fry '13 and '14 -- became NCAA All-Americans. Reome was a third-team selection during her senior season of 2004, while McGahuey was a two-time selection, earning third team accolades as a junior and second team honors as a senior. Smith earned second team honors as a junior in 2012, while Ames was a third team AVCA All-American pick following her senior season. Pasley (2006), Schurman (2007), Vea (2008 and 2009), and Try (2010) were all tabbed as honorable mention selections. Setter Catie Fry became the first repeat All-American earning the distinctive honor in both the 2013 and 2014 seasons. A total of 70 Wildcat players have earned all-conference selections during Andayas previous 19 seasons. 26 of those have been first-team all-league honorees, including two each in seven of the past 11 seasons in the GNAC. Off the court, Andaya has coached 86 academic all-conference players during his tenure. In 2002, the Wildcats set a conference-record with eight selections to the GNAC Academic All-Conference team and posted the highest team grade-point average in the 10-team league. Andaya, who grew up in Bothell, Washington, graduated from Central in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He is an active member of the AVCA, serving on its Division II national ranking committee. Andaya, born September 9, 1971, resides in Ellensburg with his wife, the former Molly Rettkowski (a former CWU volleyball standout). The couple has three children. Started at CWU: August 1993 Experience: 1996-Present: Central Washington University (Ellensburg, WA) -- Head Volleyball Coach 1993-1995: Central Washington University (Ellensburg, WA) -- Assistant Volleyball Coach 1993-1994: Central Washington University (Ellensburg, WA) -- Junior Varsity Volleyball Coach 1992: Central Washington University (Ellensburg, WA) -- Student Assistant Volleyball Coach Education: Central Washington University, 1993 -- B.S. in Business Management M.A. in Coaching and Athletic Administration (2014, Concordia University (Irvine) Bothell High School (WA), 1989 Hometown: Bothell, WA ANDAYA'S YEAR-BY-YEAR COACHING RECORD AT CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY:   Updated 6/9/16

Hannah Stires joined the Wildcats’ coaching staff in 2026. As a player, Stires had one of the most accomplished defensive playing careers in program history. A two-time GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and AVCA All-American Honorable Mention selection, Stires brings championship experience, elite defensive knowledge, and a deep understanding of serve-receive and backcourt systems to the sidelines. Stires was a four-time GNAC All-Conference selection, earning First Team honors three times and Honorable Mention recognition once. She was named GNAC Defensive Player of the Week on four occasions and played a key role in the Wildcats’ 2024 GNAC Championship run—the program’s first conference title since 2005. That season, she also earned AVCA All-West Region First Team, D2CCA All-West Region Second Team, and AVCA All-American Honorable Mention honors. A consistent postseason performer, Stires was selected to the NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team twice and earned four All-Tournament Team selections throughout her career. She also excelled in the classroom, earning GNAC and CSC Academic All-Conference recognition four times. Across five seasons, Stires established herself as one of the top defensive players in the GNAC, leading the conference in digs once and her team in digs four times. Now as an assistant coach, she applies her experience as a high-level libero to develop student-athletes, strengthen defensive systems, and contribute to the continued success of the Wildcats’ volleyball program.

Morgan Halady joined the coaching staff as a Graduate Assistant Coach for the 2025 season after a standout collegiate career for the Wildcats from 2023-24. A middle blocker for the Wildcats, Halady capped her playing career in 2024 by starting all 25 matches. She recorded 107 kills (1.14/set), 108 total blocks (1.15/set), and 21 digs while helping CWU capture its first GNAC title since 2005. She earned All-GNAC Honorable Mention honors and posted a career-high 10 kills against San Francisco State University on Sept. 6. In 2023, Halady appeared in 17 matches and 57 sets, leading the team with a .385 hitting percentage. She totaled 65 kills (1.14/set), 62 blocks (1.09/set), 10 digs, and one assist, including a season-high 10 total blocks against Michigan Technological University on Sept. 9. She was also named to the GNAC Academic All-Conference Team. Prior to CWU, Halady spent two seasons at Portland State University. During her time as a Viking, she appeared in 10 matches and 17 sets, recording 14 blocks, nine kills, and a dig. The Vikings compiled a combined 38-24 record during her two seasons with the program. A native of Washington, Halady starred at Kingston High School, earning 2019 Washington State Volleyball Coaches Association All-State 2A Honorable Mention recognition and three First Team All-League selections (2018–20). She helped guide Kingston to its first-ever state appearance in 2017 and a return trip in 2018, captaining the team as a senior. She was also named Kitsap Daily News Player of the Week during her junior season. Halady earned a bachelor’s degree in School Psychology in 2024 and is currently pursuing an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in School Psychology.