Meridian graduate following in family footsteps at WWU

The Western Washington University volleyball team's incoming recruiting class is making head coach Diane Flick-Williams feel old.

Western’s fresh batch of players includes 2022 Meridian High School graduate Finnley Claeys, whose mom, Shannon Claeys (Rowland), was a volleyball standout for the Vikings from 1999-2002 and played for Flick-Williams.

At Meridian, Finnley set program career records with 215 aces, 776 kills and 1,218 digs in her four years. She was also named to the Class 1A All-State team her senior year following a 19-3 record and third-place finish at the state tournament.

Finnley said following the same path and playing under the same coach as her mom is surreal.

“It’s so weird to think about. The program that Diane [Flick-Williams] has built — she’s been there for so long and I’m really excited to play for her because I really admire her and like the culture she’s built at Western. It’s cool to follow my mom in that way,” she said.