UAA Volleyball Faces MSUB and Seattle Pacific in Regular-Season Finales

UAA volleyball enters must-win road trip

The University of Alaska Anchorage volleyball team begins a critical two-game road stretch this week to determine if their season will continue into the postseason, goseawolves.com reported.

Currently holding a 19-7 record and a 12-4 mark in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC), the Seawolves face Montana State Billings on Thursday, Nov. 12, followed by a Saturday, Nov. 14, matchup against Seattle Pacific. These games serve as the regular-season finales, carrying immense weight for the team’s standing in the NPI power rankings.

The stakes are mathematically precise. UAA currently sits at No. 10 in the NPI rankings, which dictates the eight-team field for the NCAA West Region Championships. They are currently trailing No. 8 Seattle Pacific and No. 9 Biola for that final postseason seed.

The race for the NCAA West Region seed

The competition for the final playoff spot is a three-way battle between UAA, Seattle Pacific, and Biola. Because UAA and Seattle Pacific are currently tied for third in the 10-team GNAC, the outcome of Saturday’s game in Seattle could directly decide which program advances to the regional championships.

Montana State Billings presents a different challenge. While the Yellowjackets have struggled this season with a 5-21 record, they have recently shown signs of improvement, snapping a 58-match GNAC losing streak on Oct. 29. UAA enters the Thursday matchup in Billings with a historical advantage, leading the series 62-11 overall and holding a 15-match winning streak against the Yellowjackets.

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The Seawolves’ recent form has been dominant. They have secured nine wins in their last 10 outings, fueled by a strong home campaign at the Alaska Airlines Center where they finished 10-2. This momentum follows a season where the program has maintained a high level of national visibility, earning 14 votes in the Nov. 9 AVCA NCAA Div. II Top 25 poll.

Key performers driving the Seawolf momentum

The roster’s success has been anchored by several standout individual performances throughout the 2026 season. Senior outside hitter Lee Ivakina has emerged as the team’s primary offensive force, ranking third in the GNAC with 3.52 kills per set.

Ivakina’s recent production has been particularly notable. She has recorded at least 15 kills in each of her last six matches and has achieved 10 double-doubles in her last 12 contests. In a standout performance against Western Washington, she matched the modern UAA record for assists in a single match with 64, a feat achieved alongside senior setter Hannah Trotter.

The following table highlights the statistical leaders for the Seawolves heading into this final week:

Player	Position	Key 2026 Statistic
Lee Ivakina	OH	3.52 kills per set
Hannah Trotter	S	8.33 assists per set
Bella Burney	MB	.335 attack percentage
Kyana Gabriel	OH	3.32 points per set
Mary Nahinu	L/DS	3.06 digs per set

Complementing the offensive attack is senior middle blocker Bella Burney, who ranks fourth in the GNAC with a .335 attack percentage. On the defensive end, the back-row duties have been split between Elena Hansen and Mary Nahinu, with Nahinu ranking 12th in the GNAC with 3.06 digs per set.

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A legacy of coaching and consistency

This season also marks a significant era for the program under head coach Morgan Hooe. An Anchorage native and former Seawolf All-American, Hooe is in her first year leading the team after serving as the program’s top assistant for three seasons.

Hooe’s connection to the program is deep. As a player, she helped lead UAA to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments and a national title match in 2016. Her transition to the head coaching role follows a period of sustained excellence for the Seawolves, who have clinched an upper-half GNAC finish in 16 of the last 17 seasons.

The program’s stability is also reflected in its attendance. UAA has finished in the top 10 nationally for average attendance every season since 2014. In 2026, the team is on pace to lead NCAA Division II in this category, averaging 1,113 fans per match.

The Seawolves travel to Billings, Montana, for their first finale on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m. AST at Alterowitz Gymnasium.