Final trip to the Windy City awaits Lopes

Saturday, October 9

Chicago, Ill.

11 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Chicago State

10/8/2021 3:55:00 PM | Volleyball

GCU takes on Chicago State in morning match

By: Kellie Reynolds


Grand Canyon Lopes (11-2, 3-1 WAC)	at	Chicago State Cougars (10-7, 2-3 WAC)
		Saturday, Oct. 9 11 a.m.
GCU game notes		Live stats Live video

The Lopes head to Chicago State for the final time as the Cougars are leaving the WAC after this season. GCU is currently tied for first in the WAC's Western Division while Chicago State sits in the middle of the pack.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

LAST TIME IN CHICAGO: The Lopes will travel to Chicago State for the last time as the Cougars are leaving the WAC after this season.
SECOND IN THE WAC: Junior middle blocker Annabelle Kubinski is second in the WAC for hitting percentage with .381. Fifth-year libero Teagan DeFalco is second in the WAC in digs per set at 5.09. Junior setter Klaire Mitchell is second in assists per set with 10.0.
TOP 50: DeFalco is ranked 24th in the NCAA for digs per set (5.09) and Kubinski is 48th in hitting percentage (.381)

SCOUTING

Chicago State comes into the Saturday match with a 10-6 overall record and 2-2 WAC record. The Cougars and Lopes did not play any similar opponents in the preseason however, in WAC play they have taken on the same four teams in Seattle, Utah Valley, California Baptist and Dixie State. The Cougars took down both Seattle U and Dixie State in three sets while losing to CBU in three and Utah Valley in four. CSU is 3-2 at home while the Lopes are 2-2 on the road with their only two losses this season occurring in Portland and St. George.

Redshirt sophomore Yanlis Feliz leads Chicago State in most offensive categories, kills (274), kills per set (4.89), points (304.5) and points per set (5.44). Feliz is also tied for the most service aces on the team with 15. Middle blocker Berenice Almeyda has the best hitting percentage for the Cougars at .356. The redshirt freshman is also second in kills per set (2.36) and bocks (34.0). Fellow middle blocker Mesalina Severino leads the team in blocks (55.0), blocks per set (.98) and block solos (9). In the back row Andrea Calderon has a team best 229 digs with 4.09 digs per set. The redshirt freshman libero has a team high 314 total reception attempts and a .965 reception percentage. Graduate student and Arizona native Jaclyn Inclan have a team best of 436 assists and 9.48 assists per set. The setter is also tied for first in service aces with 15 and 0.33 per set.

The Cougars hosted New Mexico State on Thursday in which they lost after a thrilling five set match. CSU won the first and third sets but could not fend the Aggies off in the four or fifth sets. Chicago State's Yanlis Feliz had a match high of 23 kills while Nailah Jones added 10 for the Cougars. Setter Jaclyn Inclan also had a match high of 40 assists in the five-set loss.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Lopes head to Las Cruces, New Mexico, for a 6 p.m. match with New Mexico State on Thursday, Oct. 14. GCU then returns home to take on the Aggies on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m.