It wasn’t a matter of whether Kenai Central High volleyball star Emma Beck would play in college, but where she’d play. She was recruited by junior colleges and Division III schools in addition to Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage.

In the end, she picked the Seawolves.

“When you know, you know,” Beck told The Replay podcast. “I just felt at home there. I’ve always played in their gym for basketball and for volleyball.”

Beck was a four-year varsity player in both sports for the Kardinals and hit the court at the Alaska Airlines Center two dozen times for Class 3A state tournaments. In volleyball, she helped Kenai reach the state title match in each of her last three seasons and bag back-to-back state titles. In basketball, she was part of a team that finished fourth her junior season.

Volleyball is really where the 5-foot-11 right-side hitter stood out. She slammed 47 kills across the state semifinals and title match of the state tournament, including 23 in a four-set victory over Valdez in the final to cap Kenai’s 22-1 campaign. Beck finished the season with 810 kills (5.9 per set), 352 digs, 100 aces and 90 blocks, and was named the Most Outstanding Hitter at the state tournament.

“Emma is a phenomenal athlete, and we are thrilled to add her to our roster,” said UAA coach Stacie Meisner. “We’ve been fortunate enough to see her develop year after year here in Alaska, and she still has a high ceiling. Coupled with her competitiveness and work ethic, we expect her to be a big contributor to our program during her collegiate career.”

Beck was a regular at the UAA volleyball camp over the years, which helped her hit it off with the coaches. There is a world of difference between being a camper and a scholarship player, but Beck made the transition to turn a dream into reality.

“I have watched UAA all throughout my childhood,” Beck said. “It’s going to be a great experience and I’m just super excited for the next few years.”

Beck’s brother Hunter is a current student at UAA and that played a factor in her decision as well. With the Seawolves, she gets to compete at the Division II level and join her big bro in the big city.

Meisner called Beck the perfect fit for the type of person and type of athlete she wants in her program, which she took over last year after former longtime coach Chris Green left.

“Hard worker, great athlete and we’re just really excited to have her,” Meisner said.

Beck becomes the fifth Alaskan on UAA’s 2024 roster, joining Ketchikan’s Reilly McCue along with Anchorage’s Larssen Anderson (Dimond), Avery Northcutt (East) and Kadyn Osborne (Dimond).