FAIRBANKS - The No. 16-ranked Alaska Nanooks volleyball team opens its 2026 campaign on Thursday in Hilo, HI. Alaska will play four matches in three days at the Hawaii/Alaska Challenge.
Thursday, Aug. 20
vs. Hawaii Pacific | 6 p.m. AKST
Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium | Hilo, Hi.
Friday, Aug. 21
vs. Chaminade | 2 p.m. AKST
Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium | Hilo, Hi.
Friday, Aug. 21
at Hawaii Hilo | 8 p.m. AKST
Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium | Hilo, Hi.
Saturday, Aug. 22
TBD - Chaminade or Hawaii Hilo
Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium | Hilo, Hi.
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Welcome Back
The 2026 Nanooks volleyball team will open up the season after a record-breaking 2025 campaign. Last season saw the Nanooks set new program records in wins (24) and winning percentage (.800) while also being named the co-GNAC Champions for the first-time in program history and making it to the NCAA Division II West Region Championships, their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. While there, they knocked off UAA in the first round, advancing to the Round of 32 before their season came to an end.
Newcomers
Six new faces are set to call Fairbanks home this season. Lucy Braegger (OH, Mantua, Utah), Emma Freeman (OH/OPP, Mesa, Ariz.), Sarah James DeSilva (L/DS, Greensboro, N.C.), Cori Leavitt (RS, Las Vegas, Nev.), Audrey Rose Smith (MB, Benton, Kan.), and Genevieve Willis (S, Severna Park, Md.) will all rep the blue and gold in 2026. Read more on the newcomers below!
2026 Roster
Nanooks Announce Six Additions for Signing Day 2025
AVCA Preseason Poll
AVCA Poll | For the first time in program history, the Nanooks volleyball team was selected to the AVCA DII Volleyball Preseason Poll. They received 397 points and ranked T-16, matching up with Missouri Western, who also received 397 points. The Nanooks were the second-highest ranking GNAC team. Simon Fraser received 424 points and ranked one spot higher at No. 15. Western Washington was the final GNAC team in the top 25, coming in at No. 20 with 279 points. Central Washington (69) and Alaska Anchorage (45) also received votes.
GNAC Preseason Poll
GNAC Poll | The Great Northwest Athletic Conference released their volleyball preseason poll on Tuesday. The Nanooks received 84 points alongside two first-place votes and were predicted to finish third. Simon Fraser led the voting with 90 points and two first-place votes to be named the preseason favorite. Central Washington came in second, despite receiving six first-place votes. Western Washington (73) and Alaska Anchorage (60) rounded out the top five as the final two teams with 50+ points. Seattle Pacific received 41 votes and was picked sixth, Northwest Nazarene and Saint Martin's received 39 and 38 votes, respectively for seventh and eighth, and Western Oregon (26) and Montana State Billings (11) rounded out the poll.
Meet the Opponents
Hawaii Pacific Sharks
2025 Record: 6-23, 1-11 PacWest (12th)
Head Coach: Jenic Tumaneng
The Sharks are coming off of a tough season that saw them grab just one PacWest victory and finish the season 6-23 overall. Despite only six wins on the season, HPU showed off a strong home presence, winning five of their six wins in the Shark Tank. Alaska swept HPU last season in Anchorage and are 5-0 against HPU in their last five meetings.
Chaminade Silverswords
2025 Record: 16-14, 9-3 PacWest (3rd)
Head Coach: Kahala Kabalis Hoke
Chaminade finished near .500 overall, but a strong conference record pushed them to third and into the PacWest playoffs. They would ultimately fall to Fresno Pacific in the opening round last season. They were 9-8 on their home court and 7-3 on the road. They went 0-3 on neutral site courts. The Nanooks defeated Chaminade in both meetings last season, winning 3-2 and 3-0. They are 2-3 against CUH in their last five meetings.
Hawaii Hilo Vulcans
2025 Record: 20-9, 9-3 PacWest (4th)
Head Coach: Reed Sunahara
Hawaii Hilo finished the season with the third-most wins out of PacWest teams. They placed fourth in the standings but posted a 20-9 overall record. Their 9-3 PacWest record was good enough to reach the conference tournament where their season would end after a first-round matchup with Point Loma. The Vulcans were 7-2 on their home court, 6-4 on the road and 7-3 in neutral settings. The Nanooks fell in a five-set match to Hilo last season in Anchorage and are 2-3 against the Vulcans in their last five meetings.
Follow the 'Nooks
IG - @NanooksVB
X - @NanooksVB
FB - Alaska Nanooks Volleyball
