By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University seniors Delaney Speer and Emily Vossenkuhl have been selected to the 2026 GNAC Preseason All-Conference team.
Speer and Vossenkuhl are repeat selections after earning a spot on the team in 2025, with the Viking duo part of the 14-player preseason team announced on Tuesday. The 2026 GNAC Preseason All-Conference team is dominated by upperclassmen with 12 of the 14 players listed as seniors. Alaska Fairbanks senior setter Cynphany Henderson was voted the GNAC Preseason Player of the Year.
Speer (Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS) is a two-time All-GNAC award winner earning first-team honors last season to go with an honorable mention AVCA All-America award. Last season the pin hitter totaled 16 double-doubles – with five consecutive to end the season – while averaging 3.58 kills per set (4th in GNAC) and 4.12 points per set (3rd in GNAC). . Heading into her final collegiate season, Speer has recorded 757 kills (2.75/set) and 864 digs (3.14/set) in 76 matches, with a realistic chance to join an exclusive 1,000-kill/1,000-dig club that features just 26 names in the history of the GNAC and six in WWU program history.
Vossenkuhl (Ridgefield, WA/Ridgefield HS) is a three-time all-conference award winner and heads into her final collegiate season amongst the program top 20 in blocks per set (1.12), block assists (270) and total blocks (307). One of the top middles during the 2025 season, Vossenkuhl ranked third in the GNAC averaging 1.20 blocks per set and with a hitting percentage of .305.
Coming off a 19-7 campaign in 2025 and a return trip to the NCAA West Regional tournament, the Vikings head into the 2026 season ranked No. 20 in the preseason AVCA Coaches Poll and listed No. 4 in the preseason GNAC poll.
WWU will take to the road for six consecutive non-conference matches over the next two weeks, prior to opening GNAC play with the home opening weekend September 10-12 hosting Northwest Nazarene (Sept. 10, 7 pm) and Central Washington (Sept. 12, 7 pm) on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
The complete season schedule is available at WWUVikings.com with season tickets available at WWUVikings.com/Tickets.
GNAC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Here is a look at the 2026 GNAC Volleyball Preseason All-Conference team as voted on by the league's 10 head coaches:
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GNAC Volleyball 2026 Preseason All-Conference Team
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Preseason Player of the Year: Cynphany Henderson, Alaska Fairbanks
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Name
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School
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Position
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Height
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Year
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Hometown (Previous School)
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Cynphany Henderson
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Alaska Fairbanks
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S
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5-9
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Sr.
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Otsego, MN (St. Michael-Albertville)
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Tessa Onaga
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Alaska Fairbanks
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L
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5-3
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Sr.
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Honolulu, HI ('Iolani School)
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Lee Ivakina
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Alaska Anchorage
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OH
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6-0
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Sr.
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Varna, Bulgaria (Navarro Coll.)
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Bella Burney
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Alaska Anchorage
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MB
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6-0
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Sr.
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Tumwater, WA (Tumwater)
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Kailey Willsey
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Central Washington
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MB
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6-0
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So.
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Yakima, WA (Davis)
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Ellie Marble
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Central Washington
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OH
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6-0
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Sr.
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La Conner, WA (La Conner)
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Abby Black
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Northwest Nazarene
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OH
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5-11
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Sr.
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Wenatchee, WA (Wenatchee)
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Emily Garten
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Saint Martin's
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OH
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5-10
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Sr.
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Placentia, CA (El Dorado)
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Megan Omlid
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Seattle Pacific
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OH
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5-9
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Sr.
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Stanwood, WA (Lakewood)
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Christina Lopez
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Seattle Pacific
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L
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5-4
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Sr.
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Surprise, AZ (Valley Vista)
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Macyn Unger
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Simon Fraser
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L
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5-9
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Sr.
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Prince George, BC (Duchess Park)
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Megan Hawkins
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Simon Fraser
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OH
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6-0
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Jr.
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Kitchener, ON (Grand River Collegiate)
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Delaney Speer
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Western Washington
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OH
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5-11
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Sr.
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Maple Valley, WA (Tahoma)
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Emily Vossenkuhl
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Western Washington
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MB
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6-1
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Sr.
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Ridgefield, WA (Ridgefield)
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