CORVALLIS, Ore. – A pair of Oregon State volleyball student-athletes – Annika Hester and Lauren Rumel – were selected to the West Coast Conference’s Preseason Team, as announced by the league on Wednesday.

The duo also received First Team honors following the 2024 season.

Rumel enters the 2025 season off international success, helping led the USA U23 Team to the NORCECA Pan American Championship earlier this month. In 2024, she played an important role in the Beaver offense with the second-most kills (333) while appearing in every set of the season. The Tucson, Ariz., product had two outings with 20-or-more kills and another 16 in double figures. Defensively, she had 189 digs, including three times in double-figures with a season-opening double-double (21 kills, 12 digs) in a neutral four-set win over Fresno State in her home state.

Hester led the Oregon State offense and was among the leaders in the league last year. The Falmouth, Maine, product had an OSU-best 340 kills on the season, including 25 in a road win at Gonzaga in October. On 18 instances, she put up double-digit kills, including 20-or-more twice in a three-match stretch. She made her presence known at Oregon State with four double-digit kill performances in her first five outings. Defensively, she tallied 105 digs, including a career-high eight in the 2024 finale against Pepperdine.

As a team, the Beavers were picked to finish fourth and received 86 points in the preseason poll – tied with fellow affiliate member Washington State – by the coaches in the 12-team league. Oregon State opens season three of the Lindsey Behonick era next Saturday, August 30^th, against sixth-ranked Stanford in Long Beach, Calif.

2025 Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll

Team (first-place votes) points

1. San Diego (10) 120

2. Pepperdine (2) 107

3. LMU 97

4. Oregon State 86

     Washington State 86

6. Saint Mary’s 72

7. Pacific 51

8. San Francisco 50

9. Santa Clara 44

10. Portland 39

11. Gonzaga 28

12. Seattle 12

2025 Conference Volleyball Preseason Team

Genevieve Bane, Saint Mary’s

Nemo Beach, San Diego

Lucie Blazková, Washington State

Isabel Clark, San Diego

Sjakkie Donkers, Gonzaga

Kali Engeman, San Diego

Grace Flanagan, Santa Clara

Annika Hester, Oregon State

Taina Kaauwai, Portland

Kylie Munday, San Diego

Kennedy Osunsanmi, San Diego

Ella Piskorz, Pepperdine

Vanessa Polk, Pepperdine

Iva Popovic, Pepperdine

Maui Robins, Portland

Lauren Rumel, Oregon State

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