Team effort sweeps Griz

Saturday, September 7

Spokane, Wash.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

5-0

Montana

0-0

Montana

Grand Canyon

9/7/2019 2:13:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Lopes off to best start in their Division I era

By: Sarah Woodward

SPOKANE, Wash. — The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team inked the best start in the program's Division I era with a three-set sweep of Montana on Saturday at the Gonzaga Invitational. The Lopes downed the Grizzlies in straight sets, 25-19, 25-17 and 25-18, to advance to 5-1 on the season through two weekends.

"It was nice for us to close out with a sweep today," GCU head coach Tim Nollan said. "We were able to get 13 players in the match today and get them some valuable experience. I know the local kids enjoyed playing in front of their friends and family in their hometown.

"We look forward to getting back in the film room on Monday and preparing for another great weekend."

The Lopes used an evenly spread team effort to claim the tournament finale victory over Montana (0-5), as 10 Lopes tallied at least one kill. The offensive effort was paced by sophomore outside hitter K.J. Adams and junior opposite Sarah Hagge with seven kills apiece, while senior middle blocker Maria Adams added six. Hagge was named to the five-player Gonzaga Invitational All-Tournament Team.

"This was a huge weekend for our team," Maria Adams said. "We competed at a high level consistently and the game against Montana really demonstrated that.

"It was really cool to play with a hometown advantage away from home, thanks to Klaire (Mitchell's) friends and family and my own."

GCU was able to establish a lead early in the first set to kick off the momentum while holding on to come out on top, 25-19. The Griz fought back in the second set and led 7-4, but a 5-0 Lopes run shut down Montana and put GCU back on top for good.

Inching their way point-by-point, the Lopes kept the Grizzlies at bay in the third set to secure the first sweep of the season.

Freshman setter Klaire Mitchell led GCU in assists with 26, while Maria Adams paced the team at the net with three blocks.

The Lopes return home for back-to-back tournaments in Phoenix, starting on Friday with the GCU Invitational at GCU Arena. The Lopes open the home schedule against Eastern Washington at 7 p.m. on Friday.