The UAA volleyball team's biggest reward for a fabulous season still awaits -- Thursday's first round in the NCAA Division II tournament -- but the Seawolves collected some other nice prizes Tuesday.
Three players were named to the all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference team and three others earned honorable mention notice -- more selections than any other team in the conference.
Junior outside hitter Katelynn Zanders was one of four unanimous choices, junior outside hitter Julia Mackey was one of three players to make the team for a third time and sophomore middle blocker Kayla McGlathery garnered GNAC Newcomer of the Year honors to go with her all-conference selection.
Claiming honorable mention honors for the Seawolves, who placed second in the GNAC, were senior libero Quinn Barker and sophomores Morgan Hooe, a setter, and Erin Braun, a middle hitter.
GNAC champion Northwest Nazarene and third-place Western Washington each produced three first-team and two honorable mention picks.
McGlathery's selection as newcomer of the year marks the fourth straight time UAA has captured that award -- Barker won it last season, Jodi Huddleston won it in 2012 and Kimya Jafroudi won it in 2011.
The all-conference team was announced Tuesday, just hours before the Seawolves (21-5) left town for the West Region tournament in Nampa, Idaho. UAA, the tournament's No. 2 seed, will face Sonoma State (20-6) in a 12:30 p.m. AST elimination match.
Sonoma State is the California Collegiate Athletic Association champion and, according to UAA coach Chris Green, a tough first-round draw.
"They're big, and they can jump out of the gym," Green said.
UAA's biggest struggles this season have come against teams with a lot of height. Against Sonoma State, the Seawolves will do battle without one of their top blockers -- Caitlin McInerney, a sophomore who injured an ankle in last week's win over Simon Fraser.
"Caitlyn will not be there," Green said. "With her huge block, we're really gonna miss that."
Green is in his seventh season with the Seawolves, and this is the fifth time he has led them to the West Region tournament. Before Green's arrival in Anchorage, UAA had made the playoffs twice.
"We want to establish ourselves as a program like Western Washington, where it's rare when they don't go to the playoffs," he said. "We'd love to make it like that here."
GNAC All-Conference Volleyball
Player of the Year -- Michelle Terpstra, Northwest Nazarene. Defensive Player of the Year -- Samantha Hutchinson, Western Washington. Newcomer of the Year -- Kayla McGlathery, UAA. Freshman of the Year -- Madi Farrell, Northwest Nazarene. Coach of the Year – Doug English, Northwest Nazarene.
First team
Outside hitters -- Julia Mackey, UAA (5-11, Jr., Fairbanks); Katelynn Zanders, UAA (5-9, Jr., Anchorage); Elayna Rice, Northwest Nazarene (6-3, Jr., Billings, Montana); Rachel Roeder, Western Washington (6-0, Jr., Issaquah, Washington); Linden Firethorne, Central Washington (5-11, Jr., Clinton, Washington); Sam Harthun, UAF (6-0, Jr., Oregon City, Oregon).
Middle blockers – Kayla Erickson, WWU (6-0, Sr., Gig Harbor, Washington); Andrea Terpstra, NNU (6-4, Jr., Ripon, California); Madeline Hait, Simon Fraser (6-0, Sr., Burnaby, British Columbia); Kayla McGlathery, UAA (6-0, So., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho); Chelsey Walter, MSU-Billings (6-2, Sr., Billings, Montana).
Setters -- Michelle Terpstra, NNU (5-9, Sr., Ripon, California); Catie Fry, CWU (5-11, Jr., Tacoma, Washington).
Libero -- Samantha Hutchinson, WWU (5-7, Sr., University Place, Washington).
Honorable mention
Outside hitters -- Madi Cavell, Seattle Pacific (6-0, Sr., Keizer, Oregon); Hannah Deede, Western Oregon (6-3, Sr., Silverton, Oregon); Kelsey Moore, WWU (6-1, Sr., Newport, Washington); Kiah Jones, CWU (5-11, Jr., Port Angeles, Washington); Jessica Miller, Seattle pacific (6-3, Sr., Fife, Washington); Kristyn Ross, Saint Martins (5-10, Sr., Olympia, Washington); Monica Grimsrud, MSU-Billings (6-1, Sr., Montana City, Montana).
Middle blockers -- Madi Farrell, NNU (6-2, Fr., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho); Erin Braun, UAA (6-0, So., San Bernardino, California.
Setter -- Morgan Hooe, UAA (5-7, So., Anchorage); Kristina Tribley, WWU (5-10, Fr., Wenatchee, Washington); Kyndal Williams, MSU-Billings (5-9, Jr., Helena, Montana).
Libero -- Quinn Barker, UAA (5-4, Sr., Mission Viejo, California); Taylor Roberts, NNU (5-5, Sr., Nampa, Idaho); Kaely Kight, CWU (5-9, Sr., Spokane, Washington).