By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team could have had a team full of GNAC Player of the Week awards following the 2-0 start to the conference season with road wins over Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington.
Senior outside hitter
Devyn Oestreich was awarded the GNAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week award following the opening week of the conference slate, earning her fifth career GNAC weekly award and second this season.
Oestreich (Olympia, WA/Capital HS) averaged 4.33 kills per set (39 kills) on a .303 hitting percentage in wins over Northwest Nazarene (3-1) and Central Washington (3-2) to extend the Vikings winning streak to eight consecutive matches. Oestreich recorded a double-double in each match averaging 3.66 digs per set and averaged 4.72 points per set.
While Oestreich took home her fifth career GNAC weekly award, the Vikings put together a standout team performance that resulted in the two wins. Junior outside hitter
Delaney Speer was a deserving co-Player of the Week award winner averaging 3.89 kills per set on a .308 attack percentage while also recording 4.00 digs per set. And the setter duo of senior
Adele Holland (6.65 assists/set) and junior
Caroline Hansen (5.44 assists/set) helped run an efficient offense that resulted in a .295 team hitting percentage in the two wins. Junior libero
Finnley Claeys was a strong nominee for Defensive Player of the Week with Speer, leading the team averaging 4.22 digs per set.
"Devyn was in great command of her game this weekend with many offensive shots at her disposal," said WWU head coach
Diane Flick-Williams. "If you would ask her though, she would say that this is a team award as her counterpart
Delaney Speer had almost identical numbers, other hitters were terminal, the setters made great choices and our first-ball contacts allowed for many options. Devyn was a bright star in our galaxy."
The Vikings have rattled off eight consecutive victories to enter the GNAC home-opening weekend at 8-1. WWU opens the fall quarter this week with students invited to home matches Thursday vs. Montana State Billings (7 pm) and Saturday vs. Seattle Pacific (7 pm) on WECU Court in Carver Gym. Admission for all current WWU students is FREE for all home athletic events in 2025-26.
