GNAC Release (Web Link)
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Alaska Nanooks volleyball team had six student-athletes selected to the 2023 Volleyball Academic All-GNAC Team on Wednesday, Oct. 25.Â
To qualify for academic all-conference, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.20, must be in at least their second season competing for their team and must have competed on the course during the 2023 campaign. A total of 68 GNAC volleyball players received the all-academic honor.Â
Rilee White headlined the Nanooks' selection as the junior from Goodyear, Ariz. was selected for the third-time in her career. The pin-hitter is a biological sciences major and has maintained a 3.96 cumulative GPA in her time at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Also making the team again was junior L/DS Kinley Erickson. The junior was selected for her second-career time; the communications major from North Pole has maintained a 3.87 GPA. Karli Nielson, an outside hitter from South Weber, Utah was selected for the second time in her career as well, posting a 3.81 GPA in her justice studies.Â
Three other Alaska players made the team for the first time in their careers. Elena Guc led the way with a 4.00. The sophomore RS from East China, Mich. boasts the highest GPA out of the six Nanooks selected. Ainsley Smith, a redshirt-sophomore setter for the Nanooks also made it for the first time. The North Pole native is studying biological sciences and has maintained a 3.98 GPA. Finally, Elizabeth Jackson made the team for the first time as the junior middle earned a 3.30 GPA in her studies of Psychology. Alaska continues their 2023 season at Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific this week. They are entering the second-half of the GNAC season and are currently riding a three-game winning streak with wins over nationally ranked Central Washington, Western Washington and Simon Fraser, who is receiving votes in the AVCA Poll.Â
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