PORTLAND, Ore. - Four Nanooks were selected to the 2024 GNAC Volleyball All-Conference Teams, which was announced on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Karli Nielson and Rilee White were named to the GNAC All-Conference First Team, while Elena Guc and Ainsley Smith captured GNAC All-Conference Honorable Mentions.

Nielson earned First Team honors for the second consecutive season after a dominant senior campaign. The South Weber, Utah, native became a two-time unanimous selection after she ended the season with career-highs in various categories, posting 372 kills, a .259 hitting percentage and 25 assists, while on the defensive side, totaling 259 digs and 50 total blocks. She ranked first in the conference in total kills, eighth in hitting percentage and second in kills/set average with 3.48. The outside hitter reached 20 kills on three occasions during the season, notching 20 against Saint Martin's, 21 against Azusa Pacific and a career-high 23 at Western Oregon. She would also post double-digit kills in 20 of Alaska's 28 games this season. She logged eight double-doubles throughout the campaign, including a career-best 20-dig match in a five-set win at Western Washington. She would add 17 kills and a season-high .424 hitting percentage during the contest. Nielson earned GNAC Offensive Player of the Week twice this season, with the first coming Sept. 9 after she helped the 'Nooks to a 4-0 record in Alaska's matches in California. She would notch a GNAC-leading 64 kills across the four contests vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills, Concordia Irvine, Colorado Christian and Azusa Pacific. She collected her second award following five-set victories over Saint Martin's and Western Oregon, which saw her slam 43 kills over the two matches.

"Karli is one of those players opponents hate to face because there is no way to stop her from scoring," said head coach Brian Scott. "She has worked hard to become one of the very best in the conference and is very deserving of this recognition."

White collected her first GNAC All-Conference selection following her record-breaking campaign, which saw the pin hitter break the GNAC record for service aces while becoming the first player in conference history to reach 1,000 kills, 1,000 digs and 200 aces. She ended the season with 265 kills, 258 digs, 41 total blocks and a GNAC-leading 57 aces, which ranked 15th in Division II. White logged 12 matches in which she posted 10+ kills, including a season-high 18 in a five-set victory at Azusa Pacific. The senior out of Goodyear, Ariz., recorded eight double-doubles for the Nanooks throughout the season and finished with double-digit digs on 13 occasions. She ended her season by picking up GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors following Alaska's wins over Simon Fraser and Western Washington.

"I am so excited to see Rilee recognized for all that she does for our team," said Scott. "I think Rilee is a silent killer; you don't know she beat you until it's too late. She will frequently fill the stat sheet in multiple areas, beating teams with a combination of kills, aces, blocks and stopping you from scoring with her defense."

Guc grabbed her first-career GNAC All-Conference selection, securing a spot on the Honorable Mentions list. The junior right-side hitter was a focal point for the 'Nooks offensively and defensively this season, posting 259 kills on a .243 hitting percentage, which ranked third and fourth on the team. She also tallied 16 aces, 89 digs and 84 total blocks in 2024-25. Guc reached 10+ kills in 12 matches and set a career-high in kills against Colorado Christian, slamming 16 on a .500 swinging percentage in a straight-set victory. She equaled a career-high in blocks in matches against Central Washington and Cal State Dominguez Hills, recording seven in the two contests. The East China, Mich., native grabbed her first GNAC Defensive Player of the Week honor on Oct. 28 following a 10-block performance across two matches vs. Saint Martin's and Western Oregon.

"Elena has shown the entire conference what she is capable of doing this year," said Coach Scott. "She seemed to make clutch plays at all the right times this year. I'm very excited for how she will develop this off-season and what her senior campaign will bring."

Rounding out the list of All-Conference winners for the Nanooks, Smith shattered her career-high in assists en route to a GNAC Honorable Mention this season, tallying 869 to put her at the top of the GNAC leaderboards. The redshirt junior out of North Pole, Alaska, added 41 kills on a .289 hitting percentage, 28 aces, 281 digs and 29 total blocks. She posted 14 double-doubles in 2024-25, setting a career-high in single-match digs with 17 during a 3-2 win vs. Seattle Pacific. During a five-set win at Western Washington, Smith set a new career-best mark in assists with 56, helping the 'Nooks to their first win at Western Washington in program history. She picked up the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week following Alaska's opening three matches in Hawaii. She racked up 31 digs over the three contests, averaging 2.58 per set.

"Ainsley did a great job at the setter position," said Scott. "I think what makes her especially good is how hard she has worked to make all aspects of her game better. She consistently makes improvements not just at becoming better running the offense but is always making improvements as a blocker and defender as well."

Simon Fraser's Brooke Dexter earned Player of the Year, while Eva Parsons took Setter of the Year. Central Washington's Hannah Stires won Defensive Player of the Year, and Mario Andaya garnered Coach of the Year. Finally, Western Oregon's Maela Honma took home Freshman of the Year.

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