FAIRBANKS - Mikala Henderson and Tessa Onaga became the fourth and fifth All-Americans in Nanooks volleyball history on Wednesday, Oct. 10. They were both named to the AVCA Division II All-America Honorable Mention Team. 

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its 44th annual All-America teams for NCAA Division II women's volleyball and their announcement with full teams can be found here - CLICK HERE. The 2025 All-Americans include 42 players—14 on the first, second, and third teams—from 29 schools, and 117 honorable mention selections.

Henderson, a graduate transfer from Otsego, Minn., joined the Nanooks this season after four years at the University of Illinois-Chicago and delivered a standout final campaign. She finished 2025 with 241 kills (3.01 per set) and 196 digs (2.45 per set) across 80 sets, reaching double figures in kills 14 times—including an eight-match streak. She added eight double-doubles and logged 10 or more digs in 11 matches. A consistent offensive threat, Henderson tallied double-digit points in 16 of her 23 appearances and posted three 20-point outings, each fueled by 20-plus kills. She ranked among the GNAC's top 15 in hitting percentage, kills per set, and points per set, and was named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 20.

Onaga, a junior from Honolulu, Hawaii, anchored the Nanooks' defense throughout the year. She led the GNAC with 504 total digs and ranked fourth in the conference with 4.46 digs per set over 113 sets, finishing with double-digit digs in 26 matches—including 12 straight—and topping 20 digs 11 times. She also contributed 138 assists (1.22 per set) and 39 service aces, placing fifth in the GNAC, while notching a pair of double-doubles with 11 assists in each effort. Her 504 digs mark the third-highest single-season total in program history. Onaga earned back-to-back GNAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 15 and 22, is a one-time Academic All-GNAC honoree, and was selected as the 2025 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year.

On Dec. 3, both Henderson and Onaga earned All-West Region honors from both the AVCA and D2CCA. They were both named AVCA Honorable Mention while Onaga added a D2CCA Second Team All-West Region honor. 

Alaska Nanooks Volleyball All-Americans
2003 - Mallory Bergstrom, AVCA Honorable Mention
2022 - Jessa Long, AVCA Honorable Mention
2024 - Karli Nielson, AVCA Honorable Mention
2025 - Mikala Henderson, AVCA Honorable Mention
2025 - Tessa Onaga, AVCA Honorable Mention

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