Eve Stephens
Already the most decorated UAA volleyball player in school history, Eve Stephens of Palmer grabbed one more award on her way out the door.
And it was a doozy.
Stephens became the first Seawolf to earn NCAA Division II National Player of the Year honors.
This news came one day after the senior right-side hitter was named First Team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
“This was a complete surprise to me and a huge honor,” Stephens said. “I didn’t even think I was a contender for player of the year, so for them to think of me is insane and I’m deeply humbled.”
Stephens, of Colony High fame, finished the season ranked second nationally with 5.78 points per set and third with 4.75 kills per set, along with top-50 national marks of 0.53 aces per set and .351 attack percentage.
The 6-foot-1 Alaskan led the GNAC in kills by 1.25 per set and points by 1.75 per set, while ranking fifth in attack percentage, 15th in blocks (0.85 bps) and 19th in digs (2.59).
The Seawolves (27-3) achieved a No. 4 national ranking, won the GNAC title and bagged a No. 1 West Region seed.
“I found that this was the most memorable year I’ve had at UAA, not because we won GNAC – that was awesome, don’t get me wrong – but because I allowed myself to have fun and cherish the things I did good. And playing my last season with this team meant the world as I love every single one of them.”
The Seawolf spiker wasn’t just good – she was historically good.
She was an unanimous Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year and NCAA Division II West Region Player of the Year.
Stephens was a seven-time GNAC Player of the Week and two-time AVCA National Player of the Week this season and posted double-digit kills in all but two matches, including a UAA rally-scoring era record 33 kills in a four-set road win over No. 10 Western Washington.
“I think what made it happen was the environment we had at practice,” Stephens said. “It was hard every single time I stepped on the court. Our coaches pushed us mentally and physically. I didn’t have great practices every day and some weeks were very tough, but being able to bounce back is what I’m really proud of this year.”
UAA volleyball star Eve Stephens of Palmer was named D2 National Player of the Year. Photo by Skip Hickey/UAA Athletics
Her biggest adjustment came mentally, which she viewed as the weakest part of her game.
“I was afraid of making mistakes and sometimes throughout the year this fear would come back, but I learned how to let go and trust in my teammates and myself more.”
Stephens also finished as the GNAC and UAA all-time leader in points (2,292) and kills (1,926), while also placing top 5 on UAA’s career lists for points per set (1st, 4.69), kills per set (2nd, 3.94), attack percentage (5th, .296), aces (3rd, 152), block assists (3rd, 361), sets (4th, 489), matches played (4th, 132) and victories (5th, 99).
Those UAA records had stood for 30 years.
Not bad for a player who started her career at UAA with modest expectations. However, by the end, she might be the greatest Seawolf in school history.
“I didn’t even think of playing college volleyball until my high school head coach, Ms. Carter, told me that UAA was interested in having me join their program,” Stephens said. “After that I was set on going to UAA. Never thought about playing anywhere else or even talked to any other coaches.
“As for my four and half seasons at UAA, I never thought I would’ve had the career that I did. I expected to redshirt my freshman year, but ended up playing the whole season. I also never thought I would be a rotation player, but coach Chris Green believed in me the whole way and I credit everything to him, all the assistant coaches, and my team of course.”