Monday, August 22, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – Alaska and Alaska Anchorage went a combined 6-1 in an early start to the volleyball season and split the first GNAC Player of the Week awards for the 2022-23 year.

Alaska Anchorage senior Eve Stephens was named the Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Seawolves with an average of four kills per set in a three-match sweep. Stephens finished with a .351 hitting percentage and averaged 1.89 digs, 0.67 blocks and 4.94 points per set.

Stephens opened the season with 14 kills, three blocks and a .541 hitting percentage in Friday’s three-set sweep of Hawaii Pacific. She opened Saturday with 10 kills in a three-set victory over Hawaii Hilo before closing the trip with 12 kills, eight digs, three blocks and a .323 hitting percentage in a three-set sweep of No. 25 Chaminade.

Alaska senior libero Jessa Long was named the Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week in her first week in a Nanooks’ uniform, averaging 3.93 digs per set in a 3-1 weekend. Long, a transfer from Division I Florida A&M, opened her UAF career with 11 digs and five assists in a three-set sweep of Hawaii Hilo on Friday. She followed that up with 20 digs and six assists in a five-set victory over No. 25 Chaminade.

On Saturday, Long finished with 10 digs and two assists in a three-set sweep of Hawaii Pacific. In the rematch with Chaminade, Long finished with 18 digs and two assists in a four-set loss.

The two teams will finish the non-conference schedule in their home state. Both the Seawolves and Nanooks will be in Anchorage this weekend, competing in the Seawolf Volleyball Invite on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The action shifts to Fairbanks the following weekend with both teams participating in the Nanook Volleyball Classic.