Coach Chris Green didn't go far to shore up the UAA women's volleyball team, which had three seniors on this season's record-setting team.
Three Anchorage players will join the Seawolves next season -- Dimond High's Rohyn Huss and Chrisalyn Johnson, who helped the Lynx finish second at the recent state high school tournament, and South High's Mikayla Sweet, who will return home after two seasons of junior college volleyball at Central Arizona College.
The three will find plenty of familiar faces on their new team. UAA had six Alaskans on this season's 21-6 team, which recorded the fewest losses and best winning percentage in school history. Five of them were regulars in the lineup, and at least four of them will be back next season.
"We want to keep the best volleyball talent in the state," Green said. "We know that's not always possible but we're going to do our best to try and keep some of the best athletes here."
Huss, a 6-foot middle blocker, and Johnson, a 5-10 outside hitter, are one year younger than Leah Swift, a 6-footer who joined the Seawolves this season after an All-America career with the always-tough Lynx.
"Both those kids are great athletes who I really think are going to blossom in our program," Green said. "I think they have the potential to become very good players. Their ceiling is very high."
Sweet, a 5-10 outside hitter, played at powerhouse South with UAA stars Katelynn Zanders, Morgan Hooe and Sarah Johnson. Green said he didn't recruit Sweet heavily out of high school but followed her career at Central Arizona, the same school that graduating libero Quinn Barker attended before joining the Seawolves.
"She's become a dominant hitter, and her vertical's increased," Green said. "She's good in the front row but also in serve receive."
Sweet averaged 3.17 kills and 2.57 digs per set at Central Arizona, where she recorded a solid .204 attack percentage.
Huss had an attack percentage of .277 and averaged 2.75 kills and one block per set for Dimond. Johnson hit .239 with 3.1 kills and 4.99 digs per set.
Green has enjoyed success with Alaska players. He's taken the Seawolves to the playoffs in five of his seven years and all of his teams have featured Alaskans, often prominently. As a sophomore last year, Zanders became UAA's second All-America selection in volleyball.
And having local talent pays off in places other than the win column. UAA's attendance this season was one of the best in the nation among Division II teams, and the team's Alaskans were part of the draw.
"Rohyn and C.J. came to watch us play because Leah was on the team," Green said. "High school players are coming to our matches because their past teammates are on the team. It's amazing. I really think our attendance is high because we have so many Alaskans."