BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team has been voted second in the 2023 GNAC preseason coaches poll, behind only a veteran Central Washington squad.
 
The Vikings received 85 points in the vote between the 10 GNAC head coaches after finishing second in the GNAC last season with a record of 21-6 (16-2 GNAC).
 
24th-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams leads an exciting young team featuring 12 players looking to make their Western debut. After the departure of a legendary eight-player senior class at the end of last season, the Vikings new-look squad aims to continue the program's strong tradition of success, which has included 11 GNAC titles and 15 NCAA Tournament appearances. WWU has won four of the last five conference titles awarded since 2017, with the Vikings combining to go 139-24 overall during this stretch and 90-6 in conference play during this stretch dating back to the 2017 season.
 
Central Washington topped the preseason poll with 100 points, gathering all 10 first-place votes from the coaches. WWU is second with 85 points, followed by third-place Seattle Pacific (72) and fourth-place Simon Fraser (71). Reigning conference champion Alaska Anchorage rounds out the top five in the 10-team conference.
 
Each of the 10 GNAC member schools will play 18 conference matches in 2023, with the opening weekend of league play scheduled for September 14 and 16. WWU opens GNAC play with a marquee road match against Central Washington (9/14) and a trip to Nampa to play Northwest Nazarene (9/16) before opening their home slate on September 21 against defending GNAC champion Alaska Anchorage.
 
The Vikings regular-season schedule begins with the three-day, 12-match Yotes Classic Showcase held August 31-September 2 in San Bernadino, California. WWU will face a nationally-prominent field battling Regis, Cal State San Bernadino, Cal State LA, and MSU Denver in the tournament.
 
Season tickets for the Vikings nine home matches are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the WWU Box Office at (360) 650-6103. Single-game tickets will go on sale in early September. New for the 2023-24 season for all intercollegiate sports will be FREE STUDENT TICKETS at all events! The complete 2023 season schedule can be browsed online via wwuvikings.com/23_VB.
  Here is a look at the complete Great Northwest Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll for the 2023 season:
 

2023 GNAC PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL COACHES POLL
Rk	School (1st Place Votes)	2022 Record (GNAC)	Points
1.	Central Washington (10)	17-11, 11-7 (t3rd)	100
2.	Western Washington	21-6, 16-2 (2nd)	85
3.	Seattle Pacific	13-13, 11-7 (t3rd)	72
4.	Simon Fraser	13-14, 10-8 (5th)	71
5.	Alaska Anchorage	27-3, 17-1 (1st)	61
6.	Alaska Fairbanks	18-12, 8-10 (7th)	55
7.	Northwest Nazarene	16-10, 9-9 (6th)	38
8.	Western Oregon	9-17, 5-13 (8th)	35
9.	Saint Martin's	13-15, 3-15 (9th)	20
10.	Montana State Billings	7-20, 0-18 (10th)	13
Votes awarded on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis

Head Coach: Diane Flick-Williams (24th season, 506-123/.804)
Assistant Coaches: James Suh, Malia Aleaga, Chris Leverenz
2022 Overall Record: 21-6 (.778)                                         GNAC Record (Finish): 16-2 (2nd)
2022 Final AVCA Ranking: 14                                             2022 Postseason: NCAA II West Regional
Letterwinners Returning: 9                                                 Starters Returning/Lost: 1/6 (min. 15 starts, includes libero)
 
Returning Starters: Gabby Kepley (Opp, Jr.): 26 MP/22 MS, 2.02 Kills/Set, 57 total blocks.
 
Other Key Returners: Kylie Honrud (OH, Sr.): DNP in 2022…15 MP/11 MS in 2021, 0.73 Kills/Set in 2021; Devyn Oestreich (OH, So.): 13 MP/1 MS, 1.97 Kills/Set, .250 Att. Pct., 2.52 Digs/Set, 2.22 Points/Set; Adele Holland (S, RS-So. ): Redshirt in 2022…as true freshman in 2021 appeared in 19 matches (4.22 Assists/Set); Abby May (OH, So.): 27 MP/2 MS, 33 service aces to tie for team lead in 2022; Janelle Grant (OH, So.): 7 MP/0 MS…0.92 Kills/Set; Karli Tri (M, So.): 3 MP/0 MS in 2022; Anna VanderYacht (DS/L, So.): DNP in 2022; Asia Stewart (M, So.): DNP in 2022.
 
Key Losses:
Calley Heilborn (OH): 2022 First Team All-GNAC…1,171 kills & 1,401 digs in career…three-time All-American; Kasey Woodruff (DS/L): Starting libero with 1,026 career digs; Malia Aleaga (S): First Team All-GNAC…4th in WWU history with 3,593 career assists; Chloe Roetcisoender (M): First Team All-GNAC…1.30 career blocks per set to rank 3rd in WWU history; Olivia Fairchild (M): 1.28 blocks per set during WWU career to rank 4th in program history; Tupu Lologo (DS): 356 sets played during WWU career with 107 service aces; Gabby Gunterman (OH): 2021 GNAC Player of the Year…five-year letterwinner with 1,206 kills & 1,172 digs in career.
 
Key Redshirt Freshman:
Delaney Speer (RS-Fr., OH); Emily Vossenkuhl (RS-Fr., M); Finnley Claeys (RS-Fr., DS/L); Anuhea Lopez (RS-Fr., M); Caroline Hansen (RS-Fr., S)
  The WWU Volleyball program enters its 52nd season as a varsity intercollegiate sport in 2023, rising to an elite level by advancing to the NCAA Division II Championships in each of the last 10 seasons and 16 of the last 21 dating back to the 2001 season. The program has recorded 1,012 all-time wins (1012-578-7/.635). The winner of 11 Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Vikings have four of the last five GNAC titles with a perfect 19-1 record in 2017, perfect 20-0 mark in 2018, an 18-2 league record in 2019 and clinched the four-peat with a 17-1 record in 2021. Led by 23rd-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams (506-123/.805) the Vikings have posted a 257-53 record over the last 11 seasons (.831 winning percentage) and played in the NCAA II West Region championship match five out of the last seven seasons (2015-21), winning titles in 2015, 2018 and 2021 (also 2007). WWU played for the NCAA II national championship in 2007 and 2018, both national runner-up finishes, and have advanced to the NCAA Final Four in three of the past six seasons (2015, 2018, 2021).