FAIRBANKS - The Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced its 2026 Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Alaska's Cynphany Henderson was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year, and Tessa Onaga was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team. 

Henderson led the way on the 14-player preseason team. This week opens the season for the entire GNAC after the Nanooks and in-state rivals Alaska Anchorage opened their seasons last week in Hawaii. Henderson is a 5-9 senior setter from Otsego, Minn. She played a pivotal role in helping the Nanooks secure a share of their first-ever GNAC regular-season title in 2025, establishing herself as an everyday starter and one of the team's most versatile contributors. Her standout campaign featured 14 double-doubles and two triple-doubles, including perhaps her most impressive statistical performance of the season in a pivotal Nov. 8 victory over fellow co-champion Simon Fraser. Henderson recorded 20 digs, 16 assists and 13 kills to complete the triple-double and help lead the Nanooks to the win.

A consistent presence throughout the season, Henderson reached double figures in assists in all but four matches and contributed defensively with an average of 0.42 blocks per set. She finished the season averaging 5.58 assists and 3.12 digs per set while earning GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors and CSC Academic All-District recognition.

Tessa Onaga is a fellow senior, and is a 5-3 libero. Onaga's emergence as one of the top defensive specialists in the NCAA Division II West Region earned her well-deserved AVCA Honorable Mention All-American recognition following the 2025 season. A cornerstone of the Nanooks' defensive unit, she ranked fourth in the GNAC with 4.46 digs per set while providing a consistent and reliable presence in the back row.

Onaga reached double figures in digs in all but four matches during the season, surpassing the 20-dig mark 11 times and recording a season-high 29 digs on Sept. 12 against Cal State San Bernardino. Her versatility extended beyond her defensive responsibilities, as she posted a pair of double-doubles after reaching 11 assists in two separate matches. She also made an impact from the service line, ranking ninth in the GNAC with 0.35 service aces per set.

Alaska Anchorage, Central Washington, Seattle Pacific, Simon Fraser, and Western Washington also had two selections to the preseason team while Northwest Nazarene and Saint Martin's had one each. 

The Nanooks return to action this week in Anchorage at the UAA Seawolf Invitational.

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