PORTLAND, Ore. – Getting a head start on their 2024 fall seasons last week, Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks split the first Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week selections of the year.
 
The Seawolves and Nanooks were in action in both volleyball and cross country last week, and were the first GNAC schools to compete in NCAA qualifying competition for the 2024-25 school year. Both UAA and UAF went 1-2 in volleyball while competing in Hawaii. The two cross country programs went head-to-head at the Seawolf Throwdown in Anchorage, with the Nanooks garnering both the women’s and men’s team titles.
 
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Kendall Kramer – University of Alaska Fairbanks
 
The reigning GNAC champion, NCAA D2 West Region champion and All-American looked true to form in her 2024 debut, cruising to victory in the 6k Seawolf Throwdown. Kramer crossed the line with a time of 20:42.3, finishing 13 seconds clear of her teammate Rosie Fordham who placed second. The senior from Fairbanks is coming off a 2023 season in which she won three total races including the two championship crowns, and her finish at Saturday’s event helped the Nanooks edge UAA by three points 26-29 for the team victory.
 
Also Nominated: Nell Baker, UAA.
 

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Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
John Peckham – University of Alaska Anchorage
 
Peckham topped a field of 23 competitors on his home course on Saturday, emerging with a win at the Seawolf Throwdown. The UAA junior finished the 8k course in 25:54.5, good enough for an 11-second victory ahead of Alaska Fairbanks’s Benjamin Browning. Peckham is one of the conference’s most experienced returners, after placing 11th at the 2023 GNAC Championships, 30th at the 2023 NCAA West Region Championships and competing at the NCAA Championships as a member of the Seawolves’ team.
 
Also Nominated: Benjamin Browning, UAF.
 

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Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week
Larssen Anderson – University of Alaska Anchorage
 
Anderson helped the Seawolves to their first victory of the 2024 campaign, as the highlight of their trip to Hawaii over the weekend was a 3-1 triumph over Hawaii Pacific on Thursday. In her first three matches of the season, Anderson posted a hitting percentage of .380, which led all GNAC players, as she totaled 26 kills against seven errors on 50 swings. On top of her efficient attack, Anderson recorded seven service aces – the second most among GNAC players – for an average of 0.58 aces per set. In UAA’s win on Thursday, Anderson racked up 10 kills marking the fifth time in her Seawolf career she reached double figures in a match. The junior played in eight matches in 2023 before a season-ending injury.
 
Also Nominated: Karli Nielson, UAF.
 

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Defensive Player of the Week
Ainsley Smith – University of Alaska Fairbanks
 
Smith helped the Nanooks pick up their first win of the 2024 campaign, chipping in on both sides of the ball on opening weekend. The junior racked up 31 digs across her team’s three matches, averaging 2.58 per set to lead her squad. In terms of distribution, Smith led all GNAC players with 8.92 assists per set. Smith was outstanding in Alaska’s 3-0 sweep of Hawaii Pacific on Saturday, narrowly missing a double-double with nine digs to go along with 31 assists. She also posted five kills on five attempts in the team’s first win of 2024.
 
Also Nominated: Leilani Elder, UAA.