ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team continued its winning ways earning a hard-fought five-set victory over rival Central Washington University Saturday afternoon inside Nicholson Pavilion.

The Vikings extended their winning streak to eight consecutive matches with the 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 21-25, 15-11 victory over the Wildcats to improve to 8-1 overall and complete the first week of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on the road 2-0.

After dropping the opening set 25-23, Western won the next two sets 25-23 and 25-20 to go up 2-1 in the match. CWU battled back winning the fourth set 25-21 forcing the deciding fifth set. WWU went up 10-5 going on a 5-1 run and held off the Wildcats for the road victory.

The Vikings were led by 46 combined kills by senior outside hitter Devyn Oestreich and junior outside hitter Delaney Speer, who both recorded double-doubles. Oestrich led WWU with a career-high 24 kills on a .300 attack percentage, also contributing 14 digs and a pair of blocks. Speer recorded a career-high 22 kills on a .316 attack percentage, adding 15 digs and a team-high three service aces.

"Any win on the road in the GNAC is a great win. As usual, it was a battle with CWU as any good rivalry would be," said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "Our pins (Devin and Delaney) were outstanding and kept finding ways to create points. Finnley (Claeys did an awesome all over the floor and Abby (May) had such great vision with a variety of shots to put the defense on the heels."

Junior libero Finnley Claeys led the Vikings with 21 digs and senior Abby May tallied a career-high 14 kills. The setter duo of Adele Holland (34 assists) and Caroline Hansen (29 assists) guided the Vikings to a .269 attack percentage.

CWU (5-4, 1-1 GNAC) was led by a 17-kill, 14-dig double-double by Ellie Marble and 12 kills and 14 digs by Corinne Westby.

WWU and CWU will meet again in the penultimate match of the regular season November 20 in Bellingham.

The Vikings (8-1, 2-0 GNAC) makes its home debut in GNAC play next week hosting Montana State Billings on Thursday (Sept. 25). The first 300 WWU students will be treated to a pizza party starting at 6 pm in Carver Gym with first serve on WECU Court scheduled for 7 pm. All current WWU students receive free admission at all regular-season home events. The complete 2025 season schedule can be viewed at WWUVikings.com/25_VB.

Kills – Oestreich (24), Speer (22), May (14)

Aces – Speer (3), Claeys (1), Flick-Williams (1)

Blocks – Burchak (5), Zaddack (5), Vossenkuhl (4)

Assists – Holland (34), Hansen (29), Vossenkuhl (3)

Digs – Claeys (21), Speer (15), Oestreich (14)

Points – Oestreich (25.0), Speer (25.0), May (15.5), Vossenkuhl (8.0), Burchak (7.0)

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: