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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Adams, Mitchell top 6 Lopes' All-WAC honors
3/31/2021 11:17:00 AM | Volleyball
GCU claims conference's top libero, setter awards, plus 2 spots on 1st team
Six Grand Canyon women's volleyball players earned All-WAC honors, including WAC Setter of the Year for sophomore setter Klaire Mitchell and WAC Libero of the Year for senior K.J. Adams.
GCU senior outside hitter Yeny Murillo was a first-team selection, as well as Mitchell. Middle blockers Hannah Eskes and Kaira Moss were voted to the second team with \Adams. Freshman outside hitter Ashley Lifgren was selected to the WAC All-Freshmen Team, giving head coach Tim Nollan a program record for players with WAC postseason honors.
Moss' second-team honor is the third All-WAC nod of her career after being named to the All-Freshmen Team and the All-WAC first team in her previous two seasons. Mitchell and Eskes are two-time honorees for All-WAC nods.
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KLAIRE MITCHELL | WAC Setter of the Year | All-WAC first team
Mitchell is GCU's first WAC Setter of the Year since joining the conference in 2012. The Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, native holds the program's Division I assist record with 1,513 in just two seasons with the Lopes. Mitchell also broke the program's Division I-era record for assists in a four-set match with 55Â assists against Tarleton on Jan. 26. Additionally, Mitchell ranked first in the WAC and third nationally with 11.89 assists per set. She also proved to be an asset defensively, tallying 22 blocks to rank third on the team behind Eskes and Moss.
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K.J. ADAMS | WAC Libero of the Year | All-WAC second team Â
The Mount Belvieu, Texas, native is GCU's first WAC Libero of the Year since joining the conference in 2012. Adams transitioned into the libero position for her final season after playing as an outside hitter and defensive specialist in previous seasons. The senior led the Lopes in digs with 231 and digs per set at 5.02, which also ranked first in the WAC and 45th in the nation. Adams also helped the Lopes to a second-place finish in the regular season with 11 aces, second on the team.
YENY MURILLOÂ | All-WAC first teamÂ
Murillo earned her first All-WAC honors in her senior season. The Andalucia, Colombia, native had a team high of 199 kills and 4.65 points per set, which ranks 48th nationally. Murillo had a WAC best of 4.33 kills per set. The outside hitter also expanded her role on the back row with a .980 reception percentage and 69 digs. Murillo earned two WAC Hitter of the Week awards and broke the program's Division I-era record for kills in a three-set match twice against Dixie State. Murillo set a new mark with 18 kills in Feb 8. win and reset it Feb. 9 with 19 kills on .386 hitting.
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KAIRA MOSSÂ | All-WAC second teamÂ
Hailing from Boyden, Iowa, Moss claimed her third WAC postseason honor in three GCU seasons, succeeding offensively and defensively. Moss gathered 105 kills, the second most for the Lopes this season. The middle blocker has totaled 555 kills and 699 points, ranking her fourth in the GCU Division I era for career points. At the net, Moss has been a standout to blanket the Lopes record book. She ranks second in total blocks (236) and block assists (186) on her career. Moss is alone at the top in career solo blocks with 51. This season, the middle blocker was second for the Lopes with 19 solo blocks and 22 block assists.
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HANNAH ESKESÂ | All-WAC second teamÂ
Eskes was named to the All-WAC second team after leading the conference and ranking 22nd nationally in blocks per set with 1.42. Her second-team honor is her second WAC honor in her two GCU seasons. The Oceanside, California, native won two WAC Defensive Player of the Week awards for her blocking performances this season. Eskes led the Lopes in total blocks (51) and solo blocks (21) this season. Eskes also proved to be an attacking threat for GCU, as she was second in points per set (3.28) and third in points (118).
ASHLEY LIFGREN | WAC All-Freshmen TeamÂ
The Peoria, Arizona, native appeared in 39 sets this season, including two fantastic performances in her first two collegiate matches. When the Lopes faced Tarleton at home on Jan. 25, Lifgren recorded 15 kills and 16 digs. The following night, the outside hitter delivered 15 kills and 23 digs. In her freshman season, Lifgren showed her versatility to rank third on the team in digs with 116 and third in kills with 75.
For a complete list of WAC volleyball postseason honors, click here.
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GCU senior outside hitter Yeny Murillo was a first-team selection, as well as Mitchell. Middle blockers Hannah Eskes and Kaira Moss were voted to the second team with \Adams. Freshman outside hitter Ashley Lifgren was selected to the WAC All-Freshmen Team, giving head coach Tim Nollan a program record for players with WAC postseason honors.
Moss' second-team honor is the third All-WAC nod of her career after being named to the All-Freshmen Team and the All-WAC first team in her previous two seasons. Mitchell and Eskes are two-time honorees for All-WAC nods.
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KLAIRE MITCHELL | WAC Setter of the Year | All-WAC first team
Mitchell is GCU's first WAC Setter of the Year since joining the conference in 2012. The Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, native holds the program's Division I assist record with 1,513 in just two seasons with the Lopes. Mitchell also broke the program's Division I-era record for assists in a four-set match with 55Â assists against Tarleton on Jan. 26. Additionally, Mitchell ranked first in the WAC and third nationally with 11.89 assists per set. She also proved to be an asset defensively, tallying 22 blocks to rank third on the team behind Eskes and Moss.Â
K.J. ADAMS | WAC Libero of the Year | All-WAC second team Â
The Mount Belvieu, Texas, native is GCU's first WAC Libero of the Year since joining the conference in 2012. Adams transitioned into the libero position for her final season after playing as an outside hitter and defensive specialist in previous seasons. The senior led the Lopes in digs with 231 and digs per set at 5.02, which also ranked first in the WAC and 45th in the nation. Adams also helped the Lopes to a second-place finish in the regular season with 11 aces, second on the team.YENY MURILLO | All-WAC first teamÂ
Murillo earned her first All-WAC honors in her senior season. The Andalucia, Colombia, native had a team high of 199 kills and 4.65 points per set, which ranks 48th nationally. Murillo had a WAC best of 4.33 kills per set. The outside hitter also expanded her role on the back row with a .980 reception percentage and 69 digs. Murillo earned two WAC Hitter of the Week awards and broke the program's Division I-era record for kills in a three-set match twice against Dixie State. Murillo set a new mark with 18 kills in Feb 8. win and reset it Feb. 9 with 19 kills on .386 hitting.Â
KAIRA MOSSÂ | All-WAC second teamÂ
Hailing from Boyden, Iowa, Moss claimed her third WAC postseason honor in three GCU seasons, succeeding offensively and defensively. Moss gathered 105 kills, the second most for the Lopes this season. The middle blocker has totaled 555 kills and 699 points, ranking her fourth in the GCU Division I era for career points. At the net, Moss has been a standout to blanket the Lopes record book. She ranks second in total blocks (236) and block assists (186) on her career. Moss is alone at the top in career solo blocks with 51. This season, the middle blocker was second for the Lopes with 19 solo blocks and 22 block assists.Â
HANNAH ESKESÂ | All-WAC second teamÂ
Eskes was named to the All-WAC second team after leading the conference and ranking 22nd nationally in blocks per set with 1.42. Her second-team honor is her second WAC honor in her two GCU seasons. The Oceanside, California, native won two WAC Defensive Player of the Week awards for her blocking performances this season. Eskes led the Lopes in total blocks (51) and solo blocks (21) this season. Eskes also proved to be an attacking threat for GCU, as she was second in points per set (3.28) and third in points (118).ASHLEY LIFGREN | WAC All-Freshmen TeamÂ
The Peoria, Arizona, native appeared in 39 sets this season, including two fantastic performances in her first two collegiate matches. When the Lopes faced Tarleton at home on Jan. 25, Lifgren recorded 15 kills and 16 digs. The following night, the outside hitter delivered 15 kills and 23 digs. In her freshman season, Lifgren showed her versatility to rank third on the team in digs with 116 and third in kills with 75.For a complete list of WAC volleyball postseason honors, click here.
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Players Mentioned
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