The Western Washington University volleyball team earned the No.4 seed at the West Regional of the 2012 NCAA Division II National Tournament, which takes place Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 1 at host and No.1 seed Brigham Young Hawaii. That announcement came Sunday, No. 18, on the NCAA Selection Show.

The Vikings, 23-3, face No.5 seed Sonoma State (22-8) in an opening-round match Thursday, Nov. 29. The winner advances to the second round against either BYU-Hawaii (21-3) or No.8 seed UC San Diego (20-10).

In the two other first-round matches, No.2 seed Grand Canyon (23-5) faces No.7 seed San Francisco State (21-8) and No.6 seed Central Washington plays No.3 seed and Cal State San Bernardino, which has won the regional in each of the last four seasons.

It is the seventh trip to the NCAA nationals for WWU during the 13-year tenure of head coach Diane Flick. The Vikings earned an automatic regional berth by winning the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship with a 16-2 record.

"It's not too bad to be able to go to Hawaii," said Flick. "We're looking forward to playing. It's been something we're been working toward all year long."