TACOMA, WASH. – The Umpqua women’s volleyball team begins play in the Northwest Athletic Conference championship tournament Thursday morning in Tacoma, Washington. It’s the Lady Riverhawks’ first trip to the post season since 2012, when the team lost it’s opening match, but rallied back to make the consolation quarterfinals.

Umpqua finished fourth in the NWAC South Region and claimed the final playoff spot on the last day of the regular season. The Riverhawks finished the year on a three-match winning streak and secured a post season berth with a 3-0 win over Southwestern Oregon.

Making the post season caps a remarkable turn around from last year for Umpqua. The Riverhawks went 8-28 last season and won just one game against a region opponent. This year, Umpqua finished 26-21 overall and 6-8 in the South Region.

Heading to the first round of the conference championship bracket, the Riverhawks will face Bellevue, the top team from the North Region. The Bulldogs compiled a 34-8 record during the regular season and went 11-1 against North Region opponents. Bellevue ended the regular season on a four-match winning streak and had won 15 of its last 16 matches.

Umpqua and Bellevue begin play at 9 a.m. Thursday on court one in the Tacoma Trade and Convention Center. The winner moves on to the second round Friday and the loser plays an elimination game Thursday night. A champion will be crowned on Sunday.