Murillo leads Lopes win over Trailblazers

Monday, February 8

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-0,3-0WAC

Dixie State

3-3,2-3WAC

Dixie St.

Grand Canyon

2/8/2021 9:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

GCU downs Dixie State in 3 sets with senior's 18 kills

The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team returned to GCU Arena after a week off to take on another new opponent to the WAC but not all that new to the Lopes. After last meeting in November of 2012, the Lopes topped the Trailblazers on Monday night at GCU Arena by scores of 25-21, 25-11, 25-22.

"Proud of our effort tonight," GCU head coach Tim Nollan said. "It is always good to get a sweep on the first of a back-to-back. I thought Yeny Murillo had a heck of a match, hitting .326 and she only had one hitting error going into the end of the third set, where she got a little anxious."

Murillo, a senior outside hitter, led the Lopes (3-0, 3-0 WAC) with a stellar performance of 18 kills and six digs. Fellow outside hitter Giorgia Turri, a freshman, made her GCU debut with seven kills while senior opposite hitter Sarah Hagge added six kills. GCU senior libero K.J. Adams totaled a game high of 20 digs. Sophomore setter Klaire Mitchell tallied 33 assists with five kills to sweep the match from Dixie State (3-3, 2-3 WAC).

"We had great performances," Nollan said. "Hannah Eskes came in off the bench hit .750 for us and Giorgia Turri, getting her first collegiate start after only a couple days practice. I look for her (Giorgia) to keep improving as she gets more comfortable and more repetitions out on the floor. K.J. Adams again on defense, 20 digs in a three-set match is pretty bigtime."

GCU went on a three-point run in the middle of the first set to pull ahead 18-12 and sealed the set with its last three points on kills by Murillo. The Lopes totaled a match high of 17 kills in the first set.

GCU went into the second set with the same momentum and led 18-7 after kills by Turri, Murillo and Eskes. Freshman Hope Hanak-Harper made her first collegiate appearance and collected her first kill for a 24-11 lead on a set by fellow freshman Ava Mason. An attacking error closed the set win.

In the final set, the Trailblazers went back and forth with the Lopes. Kills by Eskes and Murillo, both on Mitchell sets, put GCU ahead 24-22 and an attacking error by Dixie State sealed the match for the Lopes.

"I think Dixie is a good team and they stressed us at times, and I think we answered pretty well for the most part," Nollan said. "We are definitely looking to clean some things up and make a couple of adjustments going into tomorrow."

GCU looks to complete the series sweep when it returns to GCU Arena to take on Dixie State on Tuesday at 2 p.m.