Lopes travel to Utah Valley for final WAC matches

Monday, March 22

Orem, Utah

5:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Utah Valley

Photo by: Elizabeth Tinajero

3/21/2021 3:34:00 PM | Volleyball

GCU needs to win one match to remain 2nd in regular season play

By: Kellie Reynolds

Monday-Tuesday, March 22-23 \| 5 p.m. and 11 am \| Lockhart Arena

	UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES (11-4, 11-3 WAC)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (10-2, 10-2 WAC)

WATCH: Live \| STATS: View \| GCU GAME NOTES: View

The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team heads to Orem, Utah for their final WAC matches before the Conference Tournament. The Lopes need to win one of two sets to be the second seed and get the bye in the WAC tournament. Despite having three loses the Wolverines have not been swept by a WAC opponent this season. Their loses came from Tarleton (1-3), Cal Baptist (2-3) and New Mexico State (0-3).

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

IN THE RANKINGS: The Lopes are ranked nationally in the top 25 in four different categories. Setter Klaire Mitchell has an average of 11.73 assists per set, which puts her at 7th in the nation. As a team, the Lopes defense is averaging 19.68 digs per set to rank 7th nationally. Sophomore middle blocker, Hannah Eskes is ranked 13th in the nation with blocks per set with 1.47. Outside hitter Yeny Murillo ranks 22nd in kills per set with 4.50.
UNDEFEATED AT HOME: The Grand Canyon women's volleyball team left its home season finale Tuesday like no Lopes squad had done since 1993 – with an undefeated home record.
THREE FRESHMEN: The Lopes have had three freshman playing large roles for them this season. Outside hitters Giorgia Turri and Ashley Lifgren have been vital parts of the Lopes offense and defense playing all the way around most matches. Mia Goulart has also been a large part of the Lopes defense playing every match this season in the back row.

SCOUTING

The Wolverines come into the final series of WAC play with an 11-4, 11-3 WAC record.
UVU has not been swept by a team all season as all three of their losses came from three different opponents: Tarleton, CBU and New Mexico State. Utah Valley beat the Aggies in five sets in their first match against NMSU in Orem, Utah. That win snapped the Aggies 34-match WAC winning streak.

Junior outside hitter, Kazna Tanuvasa leads the Wolverines in most offensive categories: kills (176) kills per set (3.67) points (193) and points per set (4.02). Setter Jaysa Funk-Stratton is averaging 6.58 assists per set for UVU with a total of 375 on the season. Seren Jardine, senior libero, has a total of 250 digs and is averaging 4.39 per set. Freshman middle blocker, Kendra Nock has totaled the most blocks this season for UVU with 70 and is averaging 1.30 per set.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Lopes will head back to Orem, Utah for the WAC Tournament beginning on April 1^st.