By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University senior libero
Finnley Claeys has been named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week for the opening week of conference play.
Claeys was instrumental in helping the Vikings open GNAC play with a 2-0 record, contributing a pair of strong defensive performances in victories over Northwest Nazarene (3-2) and No. 20 Central Washington (3-0).
Against the Nighthawks on Thursday, Claeys delivered 23 digs, her second 20-dig performance of the season, and just one dig shy of her season high of 24. She followed with 15 digs in WWU's sweep of CWU on Saturday, also adding three assists and three service aces during the weekend. Combined in the two matches she averaged a league-best 4.75 digs per set while also contributing three service aces.
Through the early stages of the 2026 season, Claeys is averaging 3.57 digs per set, ranking 7th in the GNAC.
The weekly honor is the first of Claeys' career and adds another accolade to an impressive senior season for the Vikings defensive specialist.
"Finnley was great this weekend and while her stats show that, it's all the non-stat things that she does that contributed to the team's success," said WWU head coach
Diane Flick-Williams. "She never misses a day to get better and is so steady at doing her job. This is so well deserved and I'm really proud of her."
Senior pin hitter
Delaney Speer narrowly missed earning the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week award recording a pair of double-doubles and averaging 4.38 kills per set, 3.00 digs per set and hitting at a .349 clip.
The Vikings (5-3 overall, 2-0 GNAC) are back in action this week with its annual rivalry match at Simon Fraser on Friday, making its final conference trip to Burnaby Mountain to face the Red Leafs at 7 pm in West Gym. The match will stream live on the
GNAC Network and feature additional live coverage at
WWUVikings.com.
