By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

Photography by: Stephanie Burgoon.

PORTLAND, Ore. – What had already been a strong start to the 2026 season for the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team carried over into a successful opening weekend of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
 
The Seawolves swept both Seattle Pacific and Montana State Billings on their home floor, improving to 9-3 overall and beginning last year’s co-title defense with a 2-0 conference record. UAA was selected as the Athletic Solutions GNAC Team of the Week on Monday. “It was a really good start to conference play, and I’m happy to come away with two wins this weekend,” said UAA head coach Morgan Hooe. “We still have a lot of season left and plenty of things we need to improve on our side of the court, so while I’m happy with the weekend, our focus has already shifted to preparing for Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene. They’re both great programs, and we know we’re going to have to be at our best.”
 
Coming off a narrow, 3-2 defeat against No. 9 Fresno Pacific in its final non-conference match on Sept. 5, UAA was firing on all cylinders in its GNAC-opener Thursday against the Falcons. Setter Hannah Trotter dished out 27 assists while adding 10 digs for a double-double and Lee Ivakina broached double digits with 11 kills to lead the offense. The preseason all-conference pick also had a team-best 13 digs for her third double-double of the young season, while the Seawolf defense limited SPU to a .111 attack percentage in the match. “Our win against Seattle Pacific was a great team effort,” Hooe said. “We had to make some adjustments throughout the match, and I thought our team did a really good job of staying focused on our goals and staying dialed in, even when it wasn’t necessarily our prettiest performance. SPU is a dangerous team, so I was really proud of the way we competed, made the changes we needed to make and found a way to get the win.”
 
On Saturday against the Yellowjackets UAA posted another stout defensive effort with 10 total blocks to limit MSUB to a .176 attack percentage. On the other side of the net, UAA posted a .302 attack percentage – its fifth time this fall eclipsing .300 in a match. Trotter had 37 assists to go along with 11 digs for her seventh double-double of the year, while Ivakina (14 kills) and Bella Burney (11 kills) each reached double figures on the attack. Libero Mary Nahinu chipped in a match-best 15 digs, marking her third consecutive contest reaching double digits in that category. “MSUB has been improving, and they’re not the same team we saw last year,” said Hooe. “We came out a little flat in the first and third sets, but I thought we did a really good job of taking care of business in the second set and responding when we needed to. A win is a win, and we’re going to get back to work this week on the things we need to clean up from that match, while also preparing for a big weekend ahead.”
 
Through the first month of the season, UAA leads the GNAC with 16.98 points per set, a hitting percentage of .271, 11.98 assists per set and 13.24 kills per set. “Our biggest strength is that our success really comes from our entire team and not just one player,” Hooe said on UAA’s solid start to the campaign. “Sure, we could have great performances from one or more players each game, but overall, it comes from everyone. We are able to rely on every individual to contribute to our success, and that can look different depending on what the team needs – whether it’s big kills, blocks, digs, aces or just making the right play at the right time. As coaches, we can look at the six players on the court or down our bench and know that we can put anyone in at any time and they’re going to be ready for their number to be called. Just as importantly, they know they’re going to be supported by every member of this team. That trust in each other and our ability to rely on everyone has been one of the things I’ve been most impressed with through the first month.”
 
Last year’s shared GNAC title marked the fifth for the Seawolves, who were selected fifth in the 2026 GNAC preseason coaches poll. Prior to assuming the head coaching position during the offseason, Hooe served as UAA’s top assistant coach from 2023-25. One of the top players in GNAC history, Hooe was the 2016 GNAC Player of the Year, was a two-time first-team all-conference selection and a two-time AVCA first-team All-American. Her 3,920-career assists were eighth-most in GNAC history and she helped lead UAA to the 2016 NCAA Division II national championship match.
 
Next up for the Seawolves is a heavyweight battle against 2025 co-champion Central Washington (4-4, 0-2 GNAC) on Thursday night in Ellensburg, Wash., at 7 p.m. (Pacific)/6 p.m. (Alaska). UAA will then travel to Nampa, Idaho to face Northwest Nazarene (6-3, 0-2) on Saturday with a 1 p.m. (Mountain)/11 a.m. (Alaska) first serve. Both matches can be streamed live on the GNAC Network and will have live statistics available with links online here.
 
GNAC Team of the Week presented by Athletic Solutions
Athletic Solutions became a GNAC partner in 2025 and is the official sponsor of the GNAC Team of the Week award. Athletic Solutions is a national leader in NIL fan engagement and e-commerce technology, collaborating with colleges and universities to bring NIL Locker Rooms to life. Its platform simplifies NIL opportunities, providing student-athletes with the tools and exposure needed to thrive in the evolving landscape of college athletics.