The Seawolves begin the season with this weekend's Extended Stay Deluxe Invitational, the tournament that sparked their transformation last season.
UAA won last year's tournament title en route to a 15-14 season that was the program's best since 2003.
That season was the final one for outside hitter Rhea Cardwell, the remarkably consistent attacker who ended her career as UAA's first volleyball All-American. It was the first for coach Chris Green and several players who followed him to Anchorage and helped make Cardwell's finale a successful one while also paving the way for a promising future.
Green masterminded a turnaround that produced 10 more victories than the previous season and almost as many as the three previous years combined, when UAA was 17-58.
Among those he lured to Anchorage are senior Callie Scott, the court-smart setter who won the Newcomer of the Year award in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference; junior Cortney Lundberg, who has the ability to dominate the net as a middle blocker; and senior Stacie Meisner, a libero who brings smarts and steadiness.
Green kept busy in the offseason, recruiting six freshmen -- including a pair from Anchorage, 6-0 middle blocker Celestia Bowlus of Chugiak and 5-8 Nikkie Viotto of Eagle River.
Other locals include 5-11 outside hitter McKenzie Moss, a sophomore who played some last season, and 5-11 outside hitter Jackie Matthisen, a sophomore who sat out last season after transferring from Division I Western Oregon.
Moss and Matthisen combined for 24 kills last weekend as the Seawolves beat an alumni team in a five-game exhibition match. Scott dished out 50 assists -- a performance that showed how she managed in one season to climb to 10th on UAA's list of all-time assist leaders -- and Matthisen and Meisner each had 16 digs.
Seawolf roster
4 Callie Scott 5-8 sr setter Scottsdale, Ariz.
5 Cortney Lundberg 6-1 jr middle blocker Hardin, Mont.
6 McKenzie Moss 5-11 soph outside hitter Anchorage
7 Ashley Bates 6-0 sr middle blocker Peoria, Ill.
8 Jackie Matthisen 5-11 soph middle hitter Anchorage
9 Nikkie Viotto 5-8 fr defense/outside hitter Eagle River
11 Celestia Bowlus 6-0 fr middle blocker Chugiak
12 Leah McWilliams 6-0 fr middle blocker/setter Pecos, Texas
13 Marie Borowikow 6-3 fr out. hitter/mid. blocker Eberswalde, Ger.
14 Stacie Meisner 5-8 sr defensive specialist Gering, Neb.
15 Jamie Russell 6-1 fr middle blocker Loomis, Calif.
16 Shelby Hollister 5-10 fr outside hitter Bend, Ore.
Extended Stay Deluxe Invitational
At Wells Fargo Sports Complex
Today's matches
11 a.m. -- UAA vs. Kentucky Wesleyan
1 p.m. -- University of Mary vs. Academy of Art
5 p.m. -- Kentucky Wesleyan vs. University of Mary
7 p.m. -- UAA vs. Academy of Art
Saturday's matches
11 a.m. -- UAA vs. University of Mary
1 p.m. -- Kentucky Wesleyan vs. Academy of Art
5 p.m. -- Consolation match
7 p.m. -- Championship match
Important warning about e-mails purporting to be from the adn.com staff.