BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team capped a solid start to the 2025 season with a four-set victory over preseason No. 4 nationally ranked San Francisco State Saturday evening on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

Playing its third ranked opponent in as many days in the stacked WWU Volleyball Invitational, the Vikings defeated the Gators 25-17, 16-25, 25-23, 25-16 to finish opening weekend with a 2-1 record. Western defeated No. 3 St. Cloud State Friday evening after falling to No. 11 Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday.

"This was a great opening weekend for us for so many reasons. I'm proud of this group for all the work they put in the offseason which really showed this weekend," said WWU head coach Diane Flick-Williams. "I really like our jumping off point and look forward to seeing where they take us."

The Vikings were again led by senior outside hitter Devyn Oestreich, who recorded her third double-double in as many matches with 23 kills on a .442 hitting percentage and 15 digs. Dating back to the end of last season, Oestreich has tallied nine consecutive double-doubles. The Olympia native finished the tournament averaging 5.08 kills and 3.42 digs per set.

"Devyn was more than outstanding this weekend," added Flick-Willimas. "She was great at every facet of the game…carrying a load on serve receive, taking big swings and scrappy on defense."

Junior pin hitter Delaney Speer also tallied a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs and led the team with five service aces. Redshirt freshman opposite Violet Burchak had eight kills and a team-best four blocks. Junior libero Finnley Claeys once again anchored the defense with 23 digs to finish the three-match tournament averaging 4.50 digs per set.

"Delaney had her best weekend yet with a variety of swings, battling on serve receive and making smart choices on defense. Finnley was a rock this weekend. Super solid as a passer, great reads on defense and killer from the service line," said Flick-Williams.

WWU cruised to the first-set 25-17 victory ending the stanza on a 7-3 run. The Gators leveled the match 1-1 with a 25-16 in in the second set, using a mid-set 7-0 run to build an 18-14 lead and finished the set on a 7-1 run. WWU went up 2-1 winning the third set 25-23 by holding off a late SFSU rally that featured a 6-0 run to tie the set at 23-23.

The Vikings sealed the victory with a 25-16 fourth-set win, opening with an 8-1 run but again had to hold off the 2024 NCAA II National Runner-Up Gators. After SFSU grabbed a 13-12 lead, the Vikings went on a 9-1 run to regain control on the way to the victory.

SFSU (0-4) was led by a 14-kill, 10-dig double-double by Grace Witcher and 13-kill, 11-dig double-double by Alana Larson. 

The Vikings (2-1) travel to play four matches in the Aloha State Showdown in Honolulu September 11-13. WWU plays tournament co-hosts Chaminade and Hawai'i Pacific, as well as Hawai'i Hilo and UC Merced. The complete 2025 season schedule can be viewed at WWUVikings.com/25_VB.

Here is a look at final results from the 2025 WWU Volleyball Invitational:

Kills – Oestreich (23), Speer (10), Burchak (8), Vossenkuhl (6)

Aces – Speer (5), Claeys (3), Holland (1)

Blocks – Burchak (4), Zaddack (4), Oestreich (2)

Assists – Hansen (25), Holland (12), Claeys (5)

Digs – Claeys (23), Oestreich (15), Speer (12)

Points – Oestreich (24.0), Speer (15.0), Burchak (10.0), Vossenkuhl (7.0)

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

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