GNAC Release (Web Link)

PORTLAND, Ore. - Two Nanooks were selected to the 2023 GNAC Volleyball All-Conference Teams while one other grabbed an individual end-of-year honor on Tuesday, Nov. 21. 

Kristina Head and Karli Nielson were selected to the GNAC All-Conference Teams while Lily Stewart was named the 2023 GNAC Newcomer of the Year. Nielson was selected as a GNAC First Team All-Conference pick while Head earned the selection to the GNAC Honorable Mention All-Conference team. "It is great to see the hard work and effort of these athletes recognized." said head coach Brian Scott, "I think it also speaks ot the effort of their teammates who have pushed them to refine skills and become better athletes."

Nielson earned the First-Team nod after leading the Nanooks offensively nearly all season. In the end, the junior OH from South Weber, Utah posted a new career-high 340 kills, surpassing the 300-kill mark for the second-consecutive season (308 last season). To end the regular-season, she was third in the GNAC in total kills and 112th in the NCAA Division II for total kills. She added a 2.93 kills/set average, good for seventh in the GNAC to end the regular-season. "Karli has worked hard to become a six-rotation outside hitter for us this year and made huge strides at improving her serve receive and defense." added Coach Scott, "As always, she has been a great offensive threat. We are very excited for her to receive this honor." On the defensive end, Nielson was fourth on the team in total digs, adding 225 to her name in 2023. This was good for a 1.94 digs/set average. This season, Nielson posted game-highs of 19 kills and 15 digs. She tallied 19 kills in two separate games, the first coming on Aug. 26, 2023 against Hawaii Hilo before doing it again on Sept. 16, 2023 against Mount Olive in North Carolina. Her season-high 15-dig performance came on Oct. 28, 2023 at Seattle Pacific. Alongside her highs, she had five double-doubles. She earned one GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honor this season, winning it for the week of Oct. 16-22. Nielson added 29 service aces, 46 total blocks and 18 assists. 

Head earned the Honorable Mention selection after posting a strong offensive-defensive split for the Nanooks over the span of the entire season. She ended the season with 146 kills in 102 sets played for 1.43 kills/set. She hit .285 on the season to lead the 'Nooks for players with more than 50 sets played this season. At the net, Head was second on the team in total blocks, finishing with 98 for 0.96 blocks/set. She had five solo blocks and added 93 block assists. Her 98 total blocks was second on the team, ninth in the GNAC and 103rd in the nation. Her 0.96/set was 10th in the GNAC and 107th in the nation as well. On the 'Nooks, she trailed only Josie Jansen, who posted 106 total blocks this season. "Kris is one of those players you can always count on to step up when needed, she was one of our two middles that had to lift a heavy load due to injuries." said Brian Scott, "Kris does a great job scoring points as an attacker, blocker and server. This recognition is well deserved of her and her teammates." Head cracked double-digits in kills on two separate occasions; Oct. 14, 2023 against CWU with 12 and again on Oct. 28, 2023 at Seattle Pacific with 10. She had a season-high 8.0 blocks on Sept. 28, 2023 against Seattle Pacific. In 21 contests this season, Head ended with 3.0 or more blocks. She added 35 service aces, 59 digs and seven assists. 

The final Nanook to earn an end-of-year honor was graduate-transfer Lily Stewart. She was named the 2023 GNAC Newcomer of the Year. This is the 'Nooks first GNAC Newcomer of the Year honor since AveRee Reynolds earned the title in 2019.

Stewart left her mark with the 'Nooks in her lone-season in Fairbanks. She appeared in 105 sets and was third on the team in total kills with 227, a 2.16 kills/set average and a swing percentage of .241 on 614 attempts. She added a big presence at the net as well, ending the season third in total blocks with 67. She had 65 block assists and a pair of solo blocks for an average of 0.64/set. "Lily has made her presence known in our gym and at the net all season long." said Scott on the final Nanook to receive a GNAC All-Conference award. "She has consistently scored as a hitter and blocker and made an impact on our team and in the conference." She was second on the team in points scored with 261.5, trailing only Nielson (392.5). Stewart's biggest offensive game of the season came against Stanislaus State. The grad-transfer posted a 20-kill night with a .625 hit percentage, adding three blocks. At the net, her best night came on Oct. 26, 2023 at Montana State Billings when she tallied 6.0 total blocks and added 14 kills. She had double-digit kills in eight matches this season and had 3.0 or more blocks in 13.

SPU grabbed three of the five individual awards as Hannah Hair was named the 2023 GNAC Player of the Year. Jason Rhine, head coach of SPU was named the 2023 GNAC Coach of the Year and Hair was, once again, tabbed as the Defensive Player of the Year. Sirena Paredo of Saint Martin's was named the 2023 GNAC Freshman of the Year and Stewart was selected as the Newcomer of the Year. 

Follow the 'Nooks
IG - @NanooksVB
X - @NanooksVB
FB - Alaska Nanooks Volleyball