FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanooks volleyball program has announced three additions for next year's 2023 roster and season. The 'Nooks are fresh off their 2022 season that saw them post 18 wins for the second consecutive year.
Josie Jansen, McKenna Smith and Grace Steurer have announced their signings to the Nanooks.
Josie Jansen | MB | Mt. Hood Community College
Jansen will join the Nanooks as a junior next season. She has spent the past two seasons at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Ore. Mt. Hood competes in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) and Jansen was first in blocks per set last season with 1.23 and sixth in kills per set with 3.26. In her time at Mt. Hood she was a First Team All-Conference selection and an All-Star her sophomore year. Jansen, a 6'2" middle from Sandy, Ore. intends on studying Psychology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She is the daughter of Emily Lewis and Michal Jansen and has three siblings, Emerson, Paisley and Ella.
Coach Scott's Thoughts
Josie is a tall, athletic middle blocker that can score as well as put up a huge wall on the block. She will give us a very deep middle presence at the net and will help push the entire group to become better. We are excited to get her here this spring and begin learning our systems long before the season starts.
McKenna Smith | L | North Pole High School
Smith, a 5'5" libero from North Pole, Alaska, has signed with the Alaska Nanooks. She'll enter as a freshman after graduating from North Pole High School and will join her sister Ainsley on the court for Alaska. Smith maintained a 4.00 GPA through high school, including a 4.3 GPA her junior year. She was named the AP English Student of the Year as a junior and was ranked in the top-two in her class that same year. As a senior, she was ranked in the top-four before graduating. On the court, Smith was a two-time Valdez Tournament All-Tournament Team selection (2021-22), a West Valley Tournament All-Tournament Team selection in 2022, the Elevate Volleyball Club MVP in 2022 and a MAC All-Tournament Team selection. McKenna is the daughter of Richard and Rebecca Smith and has two siblings; Ainsley and Braeden. She intends on studying Business and Marketing at UAF.
Coach Scott's Thoughts
We are very excited to add Kenna to our program. She is very familiar with the team and our systems. Her personality and work ethic will fit right in with our culture. She is an extremely talented libero and has impressed us for a couple years as we have watched her develop in high school and club.
Grace Steurer | L/OH | Lafayette College
Steurer is a 5'8" libero/outside who will join the Nanooks as a graduate-transfer from Lafayette College. There she earned a Bachelor's in Integrative Engineering and was a four-time Dean's List recipient. Prior to Lafayette, she played at Parkland High School (Orefield, Pa.) where she was named to the Athletics Hall of Fame. At Lafayette she was a four-year starter and a Patriot League Player of the Week winner. At Lafayette last season, Steurer posted 99 kills (1.22 kills/set), a .104 hit percentage, 18 aces, 193 digs (2.38 digs/set), 21 BA, one BS and 22 total blocks in 23 matches and 81 sets played. Grace is the daughter of Rich and Michele Steurer and has two siblings; Andrew and Matthew. She will be in the One Health Master's program when attending UAF.
Coach Scott's Thoughts
Grace is a very versatile volleyball player. She has been called on to fill many roles and positions at her DI institution. Her experience and versatility will be a huge asset in our gym. We are excited she wants to spend her last year of eligibility with our program.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks volleyball team, follow @NanooksVB on Instagram or Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks Volleyball team page on Facebook.
