BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 14 nationally ranked Western Washington University volleyball team battled in-state rival Central Washington Thursday night falling in four sets on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

Game scores were 25-21, 16-25, 25-20, 25-21 in favor of the Wildcats, with both teams winning on the road to split the season series in the rivalry match-up.

WWU dropped its third consecutive match falling to 18-6 overall and 12-5 in GNAC play, slipping into 5th place in the conference standings. CWU improved to 14-3 in conference play (18-6 overall) to remain in the top spot in the standings, one game ahead of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Anchorage and Simon Fraser which are all 13-4.

The Vikings, ranked No. 14 nationally, entered the week in postseason contention ranked No. 6 in the West Region. WWU has one regular-season match remaining on Saturday hosting Northwest Nazarene, with the NCAA Selection Show being held Monday at 4:30 pm PT on NCAA.com revealing the eight-team West Regional Championship bracket.

After dropping the opening set 25-21, WWU took the second 25-16 to tie the match one set apiece. The Vikings led 15-14 midway through the third set, but CWU used a 6-0 run to swing momentum back into its favor and forged ahead 2-1 in the match with a 25-20 set victory. Western used a 7-2 run to climb back into the fourth set tying the score 13-13 and led 19-18 prior to Central finishing the set on a 7-2 run to win the match.

WWU outside hitter Delaney Speer (15 kills, 14 digs) and Devyn Oestreich (13 kills, 16 digs) both tallied double-doubles to lead the Vikings. Senior opposite Abby May added 11 kills and junior middle Emily Vossenkuhl had eight kills and four blocks. Redshirt freshman middle Teya Zaddack led the Vikings with six blocks and redshirt freshman opposite Violet Burchak had seven kills, four digs and three blocks. Junior libero Finnley Claeys tied for the team high with 16 digs and junior setter Caroline Hansen recorded a 26-assist, 12-dig double-double.

CWU, receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll and listed No. 7 in the West Region, was led by 18 kills by Ella Bines (.500), a 15-kill, 15-dig double-double by Corinne Westby and 14 kills by Scottie Ellsworth. Ellie Marble led all players with 20 digs.

The Vikings (18-6, 12-5 GNAC) close out the regular-season schedule Saturday hosting Northwest Nazarene for Senior Night with first serve now scheduled for 6 pm (was originally 5 pm). The Senior Night ceremony will start at 6 pm. The match vs. the Nighthawks and Senior Night will stream live on the GNAC Network with live coverage links at WWUVikings.com/Live. The complete 2025 season schedule can be viewed at WWUVikings.com/25_VB.

The Vikings celebrate their four-player senior class on Saturday, with Janelle Grant, Adele Holland, Devyn Oestreich and Abby May playing in their final home match in Carver Gym. The Senior Night ceremony starts right at 6 pm in Carver Gym.

Kills – Speer (15), Oestreich (13), May (11)

Aces – Claeys (2), Speer (1)

Blocks – Zaddack (6), Vossenkuhl (4), May (3)

Assists – Hansen (26), Holland (18), Claeys (5)

Digs – Oestreich (16), Claeys (16), Speer (14)

Points – Speer (16.0), Oestreich (14.0), May (12.5), Vossenkuhl (10.5)

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Central Washington:

Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2025 season:

Here is a look at the updated GNAC Volleyball standings and results following Thursday's action to open the final week of the conference schedule. Updated conference standings, results, schedule and statistics can be found online at GNACSports.com.

Here is a match-by-match look at the 2025 season with current results and the schedule: