WWU women: A bit shocked, but ready for Elite Eight

Western Washington players and coach Carmen Dolfo felt joy, giddiness and satisfaction as they snipped pieces of the basketball net after Monday night’s win that put them in rarified territory — the NCAA Division II Elite Eight tournament. They also felt a dose of something else: Disbelief.

The Vikings’ run through the NCAA West Regional as the No. 3 seed wasn’t outside the realm of possibility, knocking off familiar conference rivals No. 6  Alaska Anchorage and No. 2 Central Washington, along with top-seeded Cal State East Bay on Monday.

But to be one of eight teams in the nation left to play for the national championship, starting at 6:30 p.m. Monday in Birmingham, Alabama against No. 4 Valdosta State?

“It’s kind of surreal,” said Emma Duff, Western’s first-team all-conference guard, after winning the title game, 73-59, over national No. 15-ranked East Bay. “It’s something that we’ve had our eyes on all year.”