BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team opened the 2024 season with a 3-0 sweep over Sonoma State University Thursday evening on WECU Court in Carver Gym to cap the first day of the WWU Invitational.

The Vikings defeated the Seawolves 28-26, 25-18, 25-22 to open the three-day, eight-match tournament with a victory on their home court. No. 7 nationally-ranked MSU Denver upended No. 22 Central Washington in straight sets in the first match of the tournament on Thursday.

Junior opposite Janelle Grant led the Vikings with 11.0 points on nine kills (.333) and three total blocks. Junior outside hitter Devyn Oestreich had six kills, a team-high 12 digs and one service ace to finish with 8.5 points. Sophomore middle Emily Vossenkuhl had five kills and four blocks and sophomore setter Caroline Hansen recorded four of the Vikings seven service aces.

"We battled through some first-match nerves and had some good moments. While we were a bit clunky at times, we stuck together and found ways to score points," said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams (25th season). "It's a good jumping off point from which we can build and get better from. I thought we had some key plays from different players late in sets. It took the whole village to compete against a stingy opponent in Sonoma State."

Junior setter Adele Holland finished with 14 assists and Hansen had 11 assists.

SSU was led by seven kills and three block assists from Emily Hernandez (8.5 points) and seven kills, 10 digs and three block assists by Brooklyn Jackson (8.5 points). 

The Vikings (1-0) are back in action Friday during the second day of the WWU Invitational taking on No. 7 MSU Denver (1-0) in the third of three matches during the day on WECU Court in Carver Gym. First serve is scheduled for 7 pm, with MSU Denver facing Sonoma State at 12:30 pm and Central Washington taking on San Francisco State at 4:30 pm. All games will stream free on YouTube and feature live statistical updates with links available at WWUVikings.com/Live.

Here is a look at the schedule and results for the 2024 WWU Volleyball Invitational:

Kills – Grant (9), Oestreich (6), Speer (6)

Aces – Hansen (4), Speer (2), Oestreich (1)

Blocks – Vossenkuhl (4), Oestreich (3), Grant (3)

Assists – Holland (14), Hansen (11), Vossenkuhl (4)

Digs – Oestreich (12), Speer (8), Claeys (6)

Points – Grant (11.5), Oestreich (8.5), Speer (8.0), Vossenkuhl (7.0)

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Sonoma State:

Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2024 season:

After not hosting a season opener at home from 1978-2020…the Vikings are starting a season in Carver Gym for the third time in the last four years. We had to dig pretty far back through the Paul Madison history files to identify that prior to the 2021 WWU Invitational, the previous time the WWU Volleyball program opened a season on its home court was in 1978. 

The Vikings have built a strong home court advantage on WECU Court in Carver Gym with an all-time 315-87 record in the venue for a .784 winning percentage. Over the last eight seasons since moving back into the renovated gym, Western is 71-7 in home contests in Carver. During the 25-year career of head coach Diane Flick-Williams, the Vikings have gone 200-21 (.905).

Fans can follow WWU Volleyball online at WWUVikings.com/VB, and via social media on Instagram (@WWUVB) and Facebook (@WWUVolleyball). All home matches feature a live webcast, as well as most road matches, with links on how to follow the games available at WWUVikings.com/Live.

The WWU Volleyball program is in its 54th season as a varsity intercollegiate sport in 2024, rising to an elite level by advancing to the NCAA Division II Championships in 10 of the last 11 seasons and 16 of the last 22 dating back to the 2001 season. The program has recorded 1,025 all-time wins (1025-592-7). The winner of 11 Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Vikings have four of the last seven 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 25th-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams (519-137) the Vikings have posted a 270-67 record over the last 13 seasons and played in the NCAA II West Region championship match five out of the last eight seasons, 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 eight seasons (2015, 2018, 2021).