Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Katie Severns
Udall, Petchul win weekly awards
3/11/2019 5:05:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
Lopes named MPSF Defensive Player of the Week, Off the Block National Freshman of the Week
For the first time this season, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation weekly individual honors featured a Grand Canyon player. Freshman libero Cole Udall earned MPSF Defensive Player of the Week honors for his two-match performance against No. 9 Loyola Chicago this weekend.
Udall tallied 25 digs in 10 sets in GCU's two wins and recorded a career-high 15 digs Friday to help the Lopes' comeback win. He followed the career night with 10 more on Saturday, helping the Lopes stave off a comeback to beat Loyola again. The matches gave Udall gave six double-digit dig matches this season. Udall's performance helped limit the Ramblers, who were hitting .323 on the season, to just a .188 hitting percentage.
The San Tan Valley, Ariz., native has been one of the most consistent liberos in the conference this season and ramped up his play when MPSF competition started. He is second in the conference in digs per set and is the only freshman in the top 15. Udall leads the Lopes in digs with 147 and averages 2.01 digs per set.
Also in the headlines, redshirt freshman setter Tanner Petchul was named Off the Block's National Freshman of the Week. Petchul came off the bench for the Lopes in both matches but helped pace the Lopes to victories.
Saturday's win was his most notable performance as the Orange, Calif., native recorded career highs in assists (33), kills (three), aces (one), digs (seven), blocks (three) and points (4 1/2). Petchul secured GCU's win with a dump in the fifth set that caught the Rambler defense by surprise.
Petchul is the first player in GCU's history to win the National Freshman of the Week award since its inception in 2014.
Udall tallied 25 digs in 10 sets in GCU's two wins and recorded a career-high 15 digs Friday to help the Lopes' comeback win. He followed the career night with 10 more on Saturday, helping the Lopes stave off a comeback to beat Loyola again. The matches gave Udall gave six double-digit dig matches this season. Udall's performance helped limit the Ramblers, who were hitting .323 on the season, to just a .188 hitting percentage.
The San Tan Valley, Ariz., native has been one of the most consistent liberos in the conference this season and ramped up his play when MPSF competition started. He is second in the conference in digs per set and is the only freshman in the top 15. Udall leads the Lopes in digs with 147 and averages 2.01 digs per set.
Also in the headlines, redshirt freshman setter Tanner Petchul was named Off the Block's National Freshman of the Week. Petchul came off the bench for the Lopes in both matches but helped pace the Lopes to victories.
Saturday's win was his most notable performance as the Orange, Calif., native recorded career highs in assists (33), kills (three), aces (one), digs (seven), blocks (three) and points (4 1/2). Petchul secured GCU's win with a dump in the fifth set that caught the Rambler defense by surprise.
Petchul is the first player in GCU's history to win the National Freshman of the Week award since its inception in 2014.
Players Mentioned
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