By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | November 2025
Alaska college volleyball is heating up as the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Nanooks and the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Seawolves gear up for the final stretch of the 2025 season in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).
The UAF Nanooks women’s volleyball team, under head coach Brian Scott, is aiming to build on strong early-season performances. Captains Elena Guc (right-side hitter) and Ainsley Smith (setter) are leading a roster strengthened by six new freshmen: Lucy Braegger, Emma Freeman, Sarah Jackson, Cori Leavitt, Audrey Smith, and Genevieve Willis. The Nanooks will face Western Oregon University at Carlson Center on November 23, 2025, in a key GNAC match that could shape their postseason seeding. Analysts say the Nanooks’ mix of veteran leadership and incoming talent makes them a formidable contender as they push toward the conference playoffs.
The UAA Seawolves women’s volleyball team, coached by Stacie Meisner, is preparing for a critical home matchup against Western Washington University on November 22, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center. After a recent four-set loss to the Nanooks (Oct. 31), standout players Lee Ivakina (17 kills), Tia Allen (13 kills), and Martina Riba (12 kills, .476 hitting percentage) are expected to lead a rebound effort. The Seawolves’ roster, bolstered by five new signees — including junior-college transfer Yelizaveta Ivakina, Trinity Byrne, Lauren Hutchinson, Katlin Kiko, and Johana Malikova — is prepared to make a push for a strong finish in GNAC play.
🤩 Fans can follow live stats, rosters, and game recaps on the official athletic sites: alaskananooks.com and goseawolves.com. With both teams bolstered by new talent and experienced leaders, the final stretch of the 2025 season promises exciting clashes for Alaska volleyball enthusiasts.
