Alaska college sports notebook: UAA unveils schedules for women’s hoops and hockey; UAF announces more recruit signings

The University of Alaska Anchorage women’s basketball team revealed its schedule for the 2024-25 season and, along with it, the slate of opponents for this year’s Great Alaska Shootout.

Among the teams making the trek to Alaska for the annual tournament are a trio of successful NCAA Division I programs. All three — North Dakota State University, University of Vermont and Troy University — won at least 22 games and advanced to the postseason. The premier basketball tournament in Alaska will take place from Nov. 22-23 with the Seawolves taking on Troy first in the opening round.

“We are very pleased with our field this season,” UAA head coach Ryan McCarthy said in a statement. “As women’s basketball continues to grow, so does our tournament, and that is evident with the caliber of teams we were able to attract. I think local fans will get to see some very good basketball from programs who competed in the postseason and could very well be teams we all watch this March.”

The Seawolves will open the season with a two-game series against Simpson University that will take place from Nov. 1-2 on their home court at the Alaska Airlines Center with tipoff times of 7 p.m. that Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday.

As far as when the team is slated to get its first taste of Great Northwest Athletic Conference action, UAA will have to wait until December, when Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon come to town on Dec. 5 and 7.

Seawolves hockey unveils schedule for upcoming season

Women’s basketball wasn’t the only UAA athletics program to have its slate of games for the 2024-25 season announced in the past week. The Seawolves hockey team will play 13 home games and the annual six-game series against in-state rival University of Alaska Fairbanks in the Alaska Airlines Governor’s Cup over the course of the season.

After a pair of intrasquad scrimmages on Sept. 21 and 22, the Seawolves’ first opponent will be Grand Canyon University, who they will host for an exhibition game Sept. 27.

UAA couldn’t have asked for a bigger challenge for its regular season opener as the Seawolves will be at home against none other than reigning national champion Denver University, coached by Anchorage’s own David Carle. The Seawolves and Pioneers will face off on Oct. 5 and 6 at the Avis Alaska Sports Complex with puck drop times of 6:07 p.m. and 5:07 p.m.

The dates for the Governor’s Cup games are Nov. 15-16 and Jan. 18 at the Avis Alaska Sports Complex while the road games at UAF will be played on Jan. 31, Feb. 1 and Feb. 8.

Local products among latest signees for UAF men’s hoops

The Nanooks men’s basketball team continued to reinforce its roster for the 2024-25 season with a trio of new recruits, including a pair from their own backyard. Wasilla’s Jeremiah (Shish) Hersrud and Kodiak’s Jackson Krug will be coming back home to Alaska to continue their collegiate playing careers, first-year head coach Frank Ostanik said last week.

Hersrud is coming over after spending the past two seasons at Bellevue College in Bellevue, Washington. He broke out in the 2023-24 season with career highs across the board that included averaging 31.1 minutes and 9.8 points per game while shooting 41.8% from the field, 32.4% from behind the arc and 79.5% from the free-throw line. He’d previously starred at the prep level for Colony High, where he earned first-, second- and third-team honors in 4A Alaska boys basketball and used to compete against squads coached by Ostanik.

“Shish is someone I was very excited to have join our program,” Ostanik said in a statement. “I have coached against Shish’s teams at Colony. He played with a lot of great players, but anyone who watched those Colony teams play knows Shish made them go. Shish is an exceptional court leader, someone who is capable of controlling the game and making everyone around him better. I am also ecstatic to have an Alaskan player out of Colony High School, which is a program known for its execution, toughness and discipline.”

Krug, a 6-foot-7 forward, spent the past two seasons at Lassen Community College in Susanville, California. He is coming off a sophomore campaign in which he appeared in 28 games and made 14 starts.

“Jackson will provide much-needed size and depth to our roster,” Ostanik in a statement. “While we have added some very talented pieces to our team, we have not had the luxury of adding much size. At 6′7″, Jackson is versatile and capable of playing on the perimeter and around the rim. There is also a unique toughness to Jackson that I believe will be impactful to our program. Anytime you can add a player from Alaska with his size, skill and versatility, it’s a huge day. I’m excited to see Jackson grow and develop as a Nanook and compete for time on the court.”

Krug starred at the prep level for Kodiak High, where he earned All-State honors and won a state title in swimming.

“I’m super excited to play under great coaches and play for the University of Alaska Fairbanks,” Krug said in a statement. “I’m super pumped to get after it!”

The third new addition is 6-foot-4 forward Michael Miller from Oak Hills, California. He spent last season at San Bernardino Valley College, where he averaged 14.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 40.4% from the floor, 28.4% from behind the arc and 72% on free throws.

Nanooks hockey team reveals latest wave of recruits

The UAF men’s hockey program has been busy on the recruiting trail as well, as head coach Erik Largen announced eight more newcomers for the 2024-25 season who hail from various junior hockey leagues and teams.

Defensemen Caelum Dick, formerly of the Dubuque Fighting Saints, and Carson Reed, formerly of the Waterloo Black Hawks, both played in the USHL. Forward Trent Penner, formerly of the Winkler Flyers, and goalie Cole Plowman, formerly of the Steinbach Pistons, both played in the MJHL.

Meanwhile, defensemen Chris Kobelka played in the AJHL with the Calgary Canucks and Nathan Rickey competed in the NAHL with the Oklahoma Warriors. Tyler Waram, formerly of the Victoria Grizzlies, played in the BCHL.

UAF volleyball brings back former player as assistant coach

The Nanooks women’s volleyball program announced the return of Cate Atkins to the program as an assistant coach. Atkins went by Cate Whiting during her time as a student-athlete from 2017-2021.

“We are so grateful to have Cate Atkins back and working with our program,” head coach Brian Scott said in a statement. “Cate was always a great student of the game and very passionate in how she played. We look forward to having her inspire our athletes with those same values and elevating our level of play.”

Atkins played setter and appeared in 445 sets across 122 matches during her five seasons for the Nanooks. She was a three-time team captain and three-time GNAC first-team selection while placing herself in the top 10 among all of the program’s women’s volleyball players in various statistical categories.