By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team has been picked in a tie for 3rd place in the 2025 GNAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Vikings received 79 points in a vote of the conference's 10 head coaches and received one first place vote. WWU is coming off a 12-12 season in 2024 finishing in 4th place in the conference standings with an 11-7 league mark.
Defending GNAC champion Central Washington is listed in the top spot with 97 points while gathering eight of the 10 first-place votes with Simon Fraser in second with 84 points and one first-place vote. The Vikings and Alaska Fairbanks are tied for third with 79 points and Alaska Anchorage (58) rounding out the top five.
Head coach Diane Flick-Williams opens her 26th season leading the program entering 2025 with a career record of 530-149 (.781). WWU returns eight letterwinners and three redshirt players for the 2025 season while adding five newcomers to the roster.
Seniors Adele Holland (setter), Devyn Oestreich (pin hitter), Abby May (pin hitter) and Janelle Grant (pin hitter) headline the group of returners with juniors Delaney Speer (pin hitter), Caroline Hansen (setter), Finnley Claeys (libero) and Emily Vossenkuhl (middle) bolstering the impressive group of key contributors from last season. Oestreich (1st team), Vossenkuhl (honorable mention) and Speer (honorable mention) earned All-GNAC honors last season.
WWU opens the 2025 season hosting the WWU Invitational scheduled September 4-6 on WECU Court in Carver Gym with San Francisco State, Cal Poly Pomona, St. Cloud State, Simon Fraser and Central Washington visiting Bellingham for the three-day tournament. The complete 2025 season schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com with season and single-match tickets available at WWUVikings.com/Tickets.
2025 GNAC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Here is a look at the complete Great Northwest Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll for the 2025 season:
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2025 GNAC PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL COACHES POLL
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Rk
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School (1st Place Votes)
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2024 Record (GNAC)
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Points
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1.
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Central Washington (8)
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18-7, 16-2 (1st)
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97
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2.
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Simon Fraser (1)
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17-9, 13-5 (t2nd)
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84
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3.
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Western Washington (1)
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12-12, 11-7 (4th)
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79
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|
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Alaska Fairbanks
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21-7, 13-5 (t2nd)
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79
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5.
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Alaska Anchorage
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16-12, 10-8 (t5th)
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58
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6.
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Western Oregon
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15-12, 7-11 (7th)
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44
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7.
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Northwest Nazarene
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9-17, 6-12 (8th)
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39
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8.
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Seattle Pacific
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10-16, 10-8 (t5th)
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37
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9.
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Saint Martin's
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6-20, 4-14 (9th)
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21
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10.
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Montana State Billings
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7-21, 0-18 (10th)
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10
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Votes awarded on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis
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