By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. – An already decorated career for Central Washington’s Scottie Ellsworth notched one more accolade on Thursday, as the graduating senior was tabbed the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Female Scholar Athlete of the Year.
 
The GNAC Scholar Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one male and one female deemed to have achieved the highest performance both academically and athletically. The award is voted on by the conference’s athletic directors.
 
Ellsworth’s career is a story of perseverance, overcoming adversity and ultimately success both as an outside hitter on the Wildcat volleyball team and as a student at Central Washington University. She went from playing in one match as a true freshman in 2021 to finishing her career in 2025 as an All-American.
 
“Scottie's commitment and process to succeed is so impressive,” said Mario Andaya, who was her head coach for all five of her collegiate seasons. “I have witnessed her commitment to academics, and how she approached athletics was almost identical. Scottie is a very intelligent person with an incredible work ethic. Scottie's growth did not come without struggles, but her love of learning, setting goals, and hard work helped her to some difficult, high-level accomplishments. Scottie is the true definition of a student-athlete.”
 
Ellsworth wrapped up her degree in elementary education, where she carried a near perfect 3.99 cumulative grade point average throughout her studies. The Kent, Wash., native was a three-time academic all-conference selection, a two-time academic all-district pick and a two-time GNAC Faculty Athletic Representative Scholar Athlete award winner as well.
 
Saving her top statistical season for last, Ellsworth shined on the court as she helped deliver a share of the GNAC championship title to the Wildcats. She averaged 3.03 kills per set while swinging at .286 – both figures standing out as career bests. She also stepped up in a big way defensively, finishing among conference leaders with a career-high 0.97 blocks per set. Overall Ellsworth’s average of 3.55 points per set this year was the highest during her tenure and it landed her on the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American honorable mention list.
   
Two of the trophies lining the display case inside of Nicholson Pavilion have Ellsworth’s fingerprints on them, as she also helped CWU capture the 2024 GNAC crown. The historic title marked the first time since 2005 that the Wildcats won the conference, and she was a member of teams that helped double CWU’s volleyball trophy count throughout her career. In her four full seasons on the court, CWU posted a team record of 74-33 (.692) including a conference mark of 55-17 (.764).
 
The late success in Ellsworth’s career came after she persisted through a difficult start. As a redshirt freshman in 2022, she saw action in just eight matches, totaling five kills in limited opportunities coming off the bench. Things changed the following season however, as Ellsworth played her way to first-team all-conference accolades in 2023. She averaged 2.72 kills per set on a .268 attack percentage, while playing in 27 matches.
 
The individual performance was a big factor in another impressive Wildcat volleyball success story – 13 consecutive NCAA Championships tournaments qualified for. CWU advanced to the NCAA West Region Championships in all four of Ellsworth’s playing seasons and she was part of a pair of regional victories along the way. One of those came in the opening round last fall, where CWU edged GNAC co-champion Simon Fraser in five sets. The season came to an end inches away from a spot in the Sweet 16, as CWU narrowly fell to Fresno Pacific 3-2 in what proved to be Ellsworth’s final match. She was selected to the 2025 NCAA West Region Championships all-tournament team.
 
Steady improvement defensively throughout her career was evidenced by an increase in blocks per set every season. Ellsworth wrapped up her career with 245 total blocks, averaging 0.80 per set. She also contributed 781 kills (2.56 kills per set), an attack percentage of .252 and 907.5 total points (2.98 points per set) in her 83-career matches and 305 total sets played.
 
Ellsworth’s award as the conference’s top female scholar athlete is a historic one for Central Washington, as she becomes just the third woman and fourth person in school history to claim the honor since the conference was formed in 2001. It is the Wildcats’ first GNAC Scholar Athlete of the Year winner since Alexa Shindruk (cross country/track & field) earned the 2018-19 ring. CWU’s other winners were Adam Bighill (football) in 2010-11 and Lindy Mullen (track & field) in 2005-06. Ellsworth is also just the second volleyball player in GNAC history to win the award, joining 2003-04 recipient Liz Bishop of Western Washington.
 
2026 GNAC Athlete of the Year Awards
GNAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year – John Peckham, Alaska Anchorage, Cross Country/Track & Field
GNAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year – Scottie Ellsworth, Central Washington, Volleyball
GNAC Male Athlete of the Year – Announced June 23
GNAC Female Athlete of the Year – Announced June 25