FAIRBANKS - The coaches have spoken, Karli Nielson has been named an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-West Region Team selection. The senior adds another honor to her illustrious career with the Alaska Nanooks volleyball program. 

"Karli was a big part of our offense this year, and she has spent many hours of practice working to become a dependable six-rotation player." said Nanooks head coach Brian Scott, "We are very proud of all her efforts to make herself and her teammates better volleyball athletes. This is a well-deserved honor for Karli and the team that pushed her to become who she is today."

Nielson earned GNAC First Team honors for the second consecutive season after a dominant senior campaign. The South Weber, Utah, native became a two-time unanimous All-GNAC 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.

Nielson is the first Nanooks player to earn an AVCA All-Region selection since Jessa Long earned an AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention nod in 2022. 

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