Outside hitter Lee Ivakina’s first season with the UAA volleyball team last year was one to remember: All-GNAC first team honors, top eight in the conference in both kills and points per set, and double-digit kills in 24 of 29 matches, to name a few.

But according to Ivakina, she’s just now hitting her stride.

“I feel like last year was an adjustment year, and I was not as confident as I am now,” the chill senior said. “But I think this year, I got it.”

The 6-foot hitter from Varna, Bulgaria, has become an integral part of a Seawolf squad that finished 23-6 last season, sharing the GNAC title and landing a NCAA tournament bid. Last week, she and fellow senior Bella Burney were named to the preseason All-GNAC team.

College Volleyball

Seawolf Invitational
At Alaska Airlines Center
Thursday
Lenoir-Rhyne 3, TWU 1
UAF 3, Chico State 0
UAA 3, TWU 1
Friday
Lenoir-Rhyne 3, Chico State 2
UAF 3, TWU 2
UAA 3, Lenoir-Rhyne 1
Saturday
Chico State 3, TWU 0
1:00pm Lenoir-Rhyne vs. UAF
5:00pm Chico State vs. UAA

At Thursday’s home opener against Texas Woman’s University, Ivakina was able to relax and enjoy the festive atmosphere and support from several fellow Seawolf teams, without the “first-time jitters” of her UAA debut.

In an interview after posting 16 kills and 18 digs in the team’s 3-1 victory over Texas Woman’s University, Ivakina explained that she feels more settled this season in more ways than one.

Along with the natural adjustments to a new school and team, she also changed positions upon coming to UAA, having played as an opposite at her prior school, Texas’ Navarro College.

Adjusting to life in Alaska was another challenge. Having lived in Kazakhstan, she’s used to the cold — but getting used to the long winter darkness was another story, she said, one she couldn’t prepare for.

“Now, I’m just honestly enjoying it,” she said. “The mountains are so pretty, I love them. I’m going to go for more hikes for sure — it’s just lovely.”

Her second year at UAA also brings new coach Morgan Hooe, whose direct approach Ivakina appreciates.

“She doesn’t mess around,” she said. “If she sees something, she says it immediately, and I love the straightforwardness of it.”

With an 11-hour time difference, she reserves Sundays for calls with her family back home, who are big supporters of the volleyball journey that’s taken her halfway across the globe.

After Thursday night’s match, Ivakina cheerfully handed out compliments with her teammates as they filed out of the locker room, in good spirits from the night’s win.

“I might as well have fun and just learn and grow,” she said. “I don’t know what’s happening next in my life, so I’ll just enjoy it.”